DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW?

There are two factors that are essential in the development of greater competency: God’s grace and our cooperation.
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On the one side is a gracious God who is working in us, both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Scripture says His divine power has given to us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3), and He is faithful to complete that good work that He began in us (Phil. 1:6). God’s call upon us is an “upward call” in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14) and He desires to take us to the next level.

On the other side is us. Although God wants to deepen our competency and qualify us for the next level, it requires our cooperation. Our participation with his working in us is the vital step in the process of our enlargement. Unfortunately, our attention is too often focused on our current level of comfort rather than the next level to which God is trying to bring us. This makes it difficult—if not impossible—to be confronted with low level attitudes that are holding us back.

People who increase their competency and qualify for the next level are able to hear and accept the bad news—about themselves. They can hear the brutal facts about their own character deficiencies and faulty performance and own it. In other words, they do not make excuses, shift the blame to others or justify themselves. They acknowledge the need for changes to be made and set out to make them. This dispels the notion that going to the next level is a fun-filled, magical journey for the one who simply desires it. No. Going to the next level is hard work. It is uncomfortable and painful. It forces us to confront ourselves and answer many difficult questions, beginning with the following three.

Do you have deficiencies that are holding you back? Can you see them? Do you know what needs to be corrected? In other words, do you know what you don’t know?

Psychology identifies four stages in the process of increasing competency. These are also known as the four stages of learning: unconscious incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence.

At the bottom is unconscious incompetence. This poor guy doesn’t even realize his own deficiencies. He doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. He goes on and on in his inefficient, nonproductive manner, unaware that he is completely failing. It’s a blissful ignorance. Sadly, he will be offended that no one appreciates him and will often complain that his hard work is unrecognized. Before this person can ever go to the next level, he must become aware of his own incompetence and recognize the need for new skills.

Next is conscious incompetence. This is the person who is failing, but fortunately, knows he is failing. He knows what he doesn’t know. He doesn’t blame others for his failure because he understands the reason is his own incompetence. As a result, he wants help, and is determined to improve himself. The Holy Spirit can work with this man because he is teachable, wants to go higher and is willing to humble himself to get there. This person is moving toward the next level.

Then there is conscious competence. This is what happens when a person has learned a new competency; however, demonstrating those skills do not yet come naturally. They have been teachable, they have submitted to instruction and have implemented necessary changes in their performance. But the new skills are still forced behaviors. It is a level of competence that requires focus and concentration. It’s not natural. There is an understanding of what must be done to succeed, but it is only through strong conscious effort that the new skill is executed.

Finally, there is unconscious competence. This is the kind of efficiency that seems to come naturally. This person has dedicated himself so diligently to learning, developing and honing a new competency, that it can be done almost unconsciously. He has had so much practice, that the new skill is “second nature.”
God is trying to bring each of us to a level of unconscious competence. Where effective living, serving, leading and loving is second nature. It’s a place where our efficiency and impact is effortless. It comes without thinking. But this level of competence does not “just happen.” It happens because teachable people have come to recognize their own deficiencies. They “know what they don’t know.” They don’t pretend to have all the answers and reject voices of criticism and concern that God uses as surgical instruments of correction. They submit to God’s gracious attempts to repair their disabilities.
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Check back next week for further discussion competence and how it is essential to promotion. Or, check out my newest book, Upward: Taking Your Life to the Next Level.

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