The Dunning-Kruger Effect

Since January, I have been in a group at our YMCA, called The Real You.

The program goal is weight loss, but I am shooting for an overall transformation to healthier living and a stronger, active self. The program runs for 8 weeks, 2 days a week and is supervised by a personal trainer named Dustin. Weights and measurements are taken at day 1, midway through the program, and on the last day. Once the 8 weeks are over, a new session starts and we have had the same group of members going since the new year.

Since January, I have lost 15 pounds, and 15 inches (Thank you, thank you, I appreciate the applause).

Right now, The Real You is on a two week break before the next session starts, and all six of us are worried about “backsliding” given the timing: Summer parties, 4th of July BBQs, hot days yearning to be cooled off by cold beer, ice cream and wine spritzers. These are all horrible temptations trying to knock us off our weight loss wagons!

So we agreed to come to the gym, 2 days a week (the same two days, at the same time as our program), to maintain the fitness routine, working out just as hard, on our own, without Dustin. We created a texting group to stay in touch and be accountable to each other. I volunteered to lead the first workout. Someone needed to direct the session, keep the timer for our work vs rest periods, and pick the song list.

I learned quickly, that I AM NO DUSTIN! Read on to learn more….

Not only did I not have his certification as a personal trainer, nor his expertise, I could not adjust the machines for my workout buddies, since I only knew the settings for myself. I didn’t have the Tabata Timer app on my phone, so I had to watch the clock to determine “work” and “rest” durations. This was not only inconsistent but also grossly inaccurate! Sometimes our work sessions were 40 seconds and sometimes they were over a minute, which caused my team to shower me with invisible “hate bombs.”

Lastly, I didn’t have a portable speaker for the music, which made it difficult to pound out those motivational rock anthems. (Imagine 4-6 people all leaning in to hear an IPHONE while exercising.)

So, as my compadres limped away at the end of that first day, I realized that I had reached a new low of incompetence. I was great as a train-ee, but wholly unqualified as a train-er. Who knew that after 24 weeks in a program I could not perform it perfectly!

So, I am sure you are asking (or screaming, “get to the point”) what does this have to do with my small business?

Three things actually:

1) I better continue my career as a face painter
2) I need to utilize the expertise of others who know more than me about “stuff”
3) I need to be able to critique my own performance

Do you ever seek feedback on your performance? Or like most entertainers (performers, clowns, showmen) do you have a super confident and overblown idea of your own expertise?

This is know as the Dunning-Kruger Effect. It means that as your incompetency increases, so does your confidence that you are completely knowledgeable. You can check it out here.

Confidence is what we base our livelihood on. What kind of performer shows up as an insecure shrinking violet? Probably not a successful one!

But you are NOT good at everything! Trust me.

You may not know about sales, business, marketing, balloon twisting, face painting, or customer service. It is important to find out if you are as good as you think you are!