Why Tacit Knowledge is More Important Than Deliberate Practice: Notes apps are where ideas go to die. And that’s good.

Why Tacit Knowledge is More Important Than Deliberate Practice: Notes apps are where ideas go to die. And that’s good.

In the pursuit of knowledge and expertise, there are two concepts that often come into play: tacit knowledge and deliberate practice. Tacit knowledge refers to knowledge that cannot be fully captured through words alone. It is the kind of knowledge that is gained through emulation, action, and apprenticeship. On the other hand, deliberate practice is the practice of honing specific skills through repetition and focused effort.

While deliberate practice has gained a lot of attention in recent years, with the belief that it is the key to becoming an expert in any field, there is a growing recognition that tacit knowledge plays a crucial role in the development of expertise. Tacit knowledge is not something that can be easily explained or taught through a set of procedures. It is learned through observation, imitation, and the internalization of principles.

When we see someone effortlessly perform a complex task, like riding a bicycle, it is because they have developed a deep understanding of the tacit knowledge required to execute that task. They have learned through emulation and osmosis, not through deliberate practice. This kind of knowledge is valuable because it allows for creative problem-solving and quick decision-making based on a multitude of considerations.

The challenge with deliberate practice is that it can only exist in fields with a long history of well-established pedagogy, such as music, math, and chess. In other domains, it is much more effective to focus on gaining tacit knowledge directly. This is why finding a master in a field and learning from them through emulation and feedback is often more beneficial than following a set of procedures blindly.

Interestingly, the field of Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) is dedicated to finding ways to make this kind of practice more effective. NDM methods focus on understanding and harnessing tacit knowledge, recognizing it as an essential component of expertise. By studying and learning from experts who possess tacit knowledge, we can gain insights that can help us improve our own abilities.

Now, let's shift our focus to notes apps and the role they play in our pursuit of knowledge and ideas. Many of us use notes apps, bookmarking tools, and other similar tools to save and organize our thoughts, ideas, and findings. We do this as a form of insurance for the future, a way to ensure that we don't forget important information.

However, notes apps are not necessarily meant to be used as memory aids. In fact, they serve a different purpose - they allow us to forget. We write things down not to remember them, but to let go of them. These apps act as insurance for our ideas, giving us the mental safety to forget. We feel that if we've written something down, it's safe and can be accessed if needed.

But the truth is, not everything we write down or save is valuable or worth revisiting. Most of our thoughts and findings are fleeting and insignificant. Yet, we ascribe value to them because they took time to think up or find. We fear losing them and strive to remember everything, even though it's not necessary or practical.

This fear of loss, known as loss aversion, is deeply ingrained in our biology. Our response to losses is stronger than our response to gains. It's a survival mechanism that has been naturally selected into our DNA. However, trying to remember everything and holding onto every piece of information weighs us down and hinders our ability to remember what truly matters.

We need to feel safe forgetting in order to let go. It's important to recognize that not everything we think or discover holds immense value. By acknowledging this, we can free ourselves from the burden of trying to remember everything and focus on what truly matters.

When it comes to notes apps, we often fall into the trap of seeking the next best thing. We believe that a new app or technique will solve all our problems and allow us to organize our thoughts better. But in reality, the value lies not in the tool itself but in our ability to let go and forget.

Instead of constantly searching for the next new thing, we should shift our focus to resurfacing what truly matters. We should embrace the fact that most of our ideas and discoveries aren't worth that much on their own. By recognizing this, we can free ourselves from the illusion of value and find mental clarity.

In conclusion, tacit knowledge and the ability to forget are two important aspects of our pursuit of knowledge and expertise. While deliberate practice has its place in certain fields, tacit knowledge is often more valuable and can be gained through emulation and observation. Similarly, notes apps and other similar tools are not meant to be used as memory aids but as a way to let go and feel safe forgetting. By embracing these concepts, we can enhance our learning and focus on what truly matters.

Actionable advice:

1. Seek out masters in your field and learn from them through emulation and feedback. Embrace the power of tacit knowledge and the insights it can provide.
2. Recognize that not everything you think or discover holds immense value. Focus on resurfacing what truly matters and let go of the rest.
3. Instead of constantly seeking the next best notes app or technique, embrace the power of forgetting. Use notes apps as a tool to let go and find mental clarity.