Welcome to Snafu, a newsletter about how to change behavior.

In learning something new, it is easy to confuse practice with performance. They're both important in tackling a new skill, but serve distinctly different roles.

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Know the difference between practice and performance

As an undergraduate, I studied learning. Specifically, I became obsessed with the impact of variable practice on motor learning. Many of the classic studies in the field are done with basketball. Here’s a simple example:

Two groups of people with no prior experience are given the task of shooting hoops. The first group, the control, attempt throws from the free throw line. The variable practice group attempt an equal number of throws from throughout the court.

Understandably, during this initial practice interval the control group performs better. They have more opportunities to attempt the same shot and fewer variables to contend with.

Things get interesting during the subsequent, performance intervals. At the end of the practice session, each group is tasked with shooting baskets from the free throw line. Then, one hour and one week later, both groups again shoot baskets from the free throw line.

During the first performance session, the control group scores more points. But, in an unexpected twist, an hour and a week later, the variable practice group – those with less experience shooting free throws! – score substantially more points.

The people who practiced shooting baskets from a wide range of angles have better retention of the skill.

Even more interesting, when both groups are tasked with shooting baskets a week later from somewhere else on the court – somewhere that neither group attempted previously – the variable practice group again performs substantially better.

Variable practice results in better skill retention and skill transfer.

Don't assess learning during practice

The problem is that when you and I are casually shooting hoops, even if we are “just practicing,” we want to score points.

We assess ourselves by how well we perform while we are learning.

When I'm undertaking a new project, I remind myself to distinguish between learning and performance. In the three months learning up to Responsive Conference 2024, the goal was to sell tickets to the conference - a performance interval. Over the next three months, I’m re-focusing on diet. This is a learning phase, which entails study, research, and non-concrete outcomes.

Learning is about the messy middle. It means learning to shoot basketball while being willing to miss more shots than you make because you are practicing.

The next time you are practicing a new skill or looking to refine an existing one, remind yourself whether this is a practice or performance phase of learning.

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3 things I’ve loved this week

Quote I’m considering: "Measure in decades, not in days."

I said this in passing to a client earlier in the week, and now I can’t stop thinking about it.

If you are trying to measure how effectively you’ve learned something like shooting hoops in basketball, it helps to look at the longer term effects of your practice.

And, as I was describing to my client, the value of a professional relationship is best measured over years, not months or days.

Wherever possible, look at the long term impact.

Book I’ve loved: A Sense of Where You Are by John McPhee

This book is about Bill Bradley, the basketball player turned US Senator, while he was a student-athlete at Princeton.

If you already love basketball, this is a must read. And if you don’t yet, this book will turn you on to the sport.

Video we just released: What happened at Responsive Conference?​

Responsive Conference 2024 brought together almost 300 founders and people leaders and 40+ speakers together for two days around the topic of connection at work. We’ve just released a trailer about the event. Watch it here!​

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This newsletter is free and I don’t run ads. But I do spend dozens of hours researching and writing about selling each week. Here’s how you can support.

Share Snafu - If you're enjoying Snafu, it would mean the world to me if you would share it with one person who you think would like it. What friend, co-worker, or family member comes to mind? Forward this along!

​Books by Robin - I've published two books - so far! If you’re interested in learning to do a handstand, check out How to Do a Handstand. If you’re building a company or want to improve your company’s culture, read Responsive: What It Takes to Create a Thriving Organization.

Thanks for your support! It means the world.

Until next week,
Robin