F Manage Yourself 73 ing and how we are doing it. I've mentioned that great coaches are highly disciplined, and a good deal of that discipline is di- rected toward monitoring, modifying, and adjusting how they communicate with the people they are developing. The fourth level, unconscious competence, is about auto- matic expertise. There are literally thousands of tasks you perform at this level--from brushing your teeth to driving your car. Sometimes even complex skills can get to this level--but not every time, even in the best of performers. There are days when Tiger Woods, for example, is "in the zone" (as this state is often referred to in the press), when he stands over the ball and every- thing is automatic. But most of the time he has to be consciously competent, fully aware of what he is doing and making small adjustments. There may come a day when you are so good at giving competent, relevant feedback, for example, that it just flows out of your mouth correctly. But it likely will take thousands of con- sciously competent repetitions to get to that stage, and even then, the odd situation will require conscious adjustment. Often people expect that certain activities, such as dealing with others, will get a lot easier over time. This is not necessar- ily the case. Choosing to take on the responsibility of triggering the Third Factor in another human being is choosing to take on a complex and full mandate that may never feel any easier. But eventually--and this is very, very important--you become bet- ter at it and find it much more fulfilling. The third level, conscious competence, where attentive practice is active, is the level we occupy most frequently when we are performing at our best. This requires that we learn the skill of active awareness. Body, Mind, and Feelings Active awareness is a practical skill, not an intellectual experi- ence. It is something you do, not something you know.The good American Management Association · www.amanet.org