“We don’t know what we don’t know.”
Beginner’s Mind
When I first discovered the art of storytelling performance, I had beginner’s mind. Here was my process: Pick a story that I like. Learn the story. Tell it. I relied on “natural talent.” Vocal variety, facial expressions, and gestures came naturally to me. Other skills had been honed in my prior study of giving speeches and workshops. I had already gotten me over the fear of public speaking (an essential component of storytelling). Beginner’s mind also meant that I didn’t have the “limiting beliefs” that come with experience. I was riding on a “high” of natural talent. I wanted to learn by doing, so I explored different genres of stories. With the positive feedback from audiences and friends, I entered contests. The audience liked me. I felt good about my stories. I was unstoppable. Soon I was going to be a worldwide storytelling phenomenon. (OK, those that know me can tell I’m exaggerating this story a little.)
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is a psychological phenomena that we tend to over-rate our skills. We rate our expertise as actual experts when we don’t know what we don’t know. You might be saying, Yes! I know those people. But since we all of pockets of incompetence, we are all susceptible to this delusion at times. Incompetence simply means that I was lacking the knowledge and ability that comes with experience.
Intermediate Mind. Knowing what you don’t know…
I didn’t win the storytelling contests that I entered. I didn’t really know what the judges were looking for. The beginner’s luck had run out. That initial high of confidence had run out. What are the components that make a good story and storyteller? I knew when I liked a story, but I couldn’t tell you all the components of why the story worked so well. I had begun to glimpse the mountain of knowledge and experience that I did not have.
I started to take workshops with well-known storytelling performance artists. I continued to learn by doing. I went to see master storytellers perform. I studied them. I found an encouraging community. I started to read and study. The initial stages of any learning are exponential. (I was growing by leaps and bounds in the beginner days.)
However, the curve had flattened. (The learning was slow and steady.) I struggled to stay connected to the motivation to put in the 10,000 hours towards mastery (per Malcolm Gladwell). In the end, my passion for storytelling kept me going.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect is not a ego problem. Poor performers often lack the expertise to know how bad they are doing. Once we realize our deficits, then we often admit them. Wow! I just didn’t realize my unconscious distracting speaking habits.
However, this effect is also why those with moderate expertise often have lack of confidence.
Expert Mind
Actual experts suffer from a different problem. They assume everyone knows what they know. It’s just so obvious to them. They don’t perceive how unusual their abilities are.
Over the past few years, I have developed storytelling expertise. I continue to listen and study other storytellers. I continue to learn and teach. I have always believed that if you want to learn something, teach it! I would not call myself a “Expert Storyteller.” That is a high mountain to climb. There is so much that I don’t know. And yet, I do have expertise in this area. What I consider “common knowledge” about storytelling is by no means common, but comes from years of experience. While I am not the top expert, I do have expertise. Hmmm… I’m an above-average storyteller… an expert in some sense… or am I suffering from Dunning-Kruger?
How can you tell how good you actually are? Where are you on this spectrum?
Here’s the antidote to Dunning-Kruger: Ask for feedback (and listen to it). Continue to learn.