Competence
Competence is the ability to act effectively in a specific area thanks to knowledge, skills and experience.
Definition
Competence does not mean only theoretical knowledge. It includes understanding the situation, selecting tools, execution and assessing the effects. In the self-determination theory, the sense of competence is one of the basic psychological needs supporting motivation.
Key ideas
- Knowledge and practice
- Effectiveness in context
- A sense of influence
Practice and life
Choose one competence and break it down into micro-elements: knowledge, exercise, feedback, progress measurement. Work on one item per week.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to confuse competence with self-confidence. You can feel confident and perform poorly, or feel insecure despite your real skills.
> Competence grows where practice meets feedback.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What do I actually have competence in and what do I only have a general understanding of?
- What feedback do I need?
- How will I know if my skills have improved?