Nope! This post is not about what you think it’s about. Well, probably.
I’m not talking about getting practice repetitions. Actually, I sort of am. Let me explain, however.
I previously reviewed The Little Book of Talent, which is basically a collection of tips on skill development. Here’s an excerpt from one of them.
“This tip provides a way to measure practice effectiveness. It’s called the R.E.P.S. gauge. Each letter stands for a key element of deep practice. R: Reaching and Repeating E: Engagement P: Purposefulness S: Strong, Speedy Feedback.”
So basically this is about practicing a skill to repeatedly go beyond current capabilities, while fully engaged in the process, practicing with purpose, and getting good feedback. I might have a quibble with using “Strong, Speedy” regarding that feedback. That’s because there’s a growing body or research about the timing and type of feedback that’s best. It’s something Harjiv Singh and I touched on in this Coaching Conversation. It also came up in this one with Daniel Greenwood and Alexis Lebedew. Regardless, though, quality feedback is important.
The challenge for us as coaches is to make sure our training activities are high on the REPS scale.
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