Performers in all aspects of life need high levels of skill, talent and ability. As a coach with any performer, it is critical to distinguish between the three as growth will require different kinds of actions coming from a variety of conversations.

In distinguishing the possibility for growth in skill, talent and ability, you will see there is not as great an opportunity in one as there may be in another. By being clear about what you are actually working on you can create the most effective actions.

So what is skill? This is how I view it.

SKILL-The execution of the fundamentals of an activity with the objective being
a high level of performance.

Our skills can definitely be improved. Our growth in skills is caused by repetition of each skill of the activity and by repetition of a sequence of those skills. Practice, practice, practice.

Then we have talent. Some people can run fast, jump high, sing, dance, etc. without having spent a lot of time practicing. They are just doing œwhat comes naturally. Talent, in my view, looks like this:

TALENT-Allows one to perform at a fairly high level without the practice
normally deemed essential. There is a natural feel for performing the
actions and an innate physical ability to perform.

Talent like skills can be refined. However, we will reach the maximum we can expect. There will be a time when our personal best is what it is.

If this is true, can we continue to grow? I say, absolutely. In athletics there will be a time when age will limit what we can achieve. However, I want you to consider that the most important factor in consistent, high level performance is ability. So what is ability?

ABILITY-The capacity to consistently apply ones skill and talent at the highest
level regardless of the circumstances.

Ability has you make the extraordinary play in a pick-up game or a championship game. It is being a great putter in the U.S. Open or in your Sunday, $2 a side match with friends.
Its making the two free throws to win the game just as you do when practicing on you outdoor court at home.

All of you know someone that clearly has skill and talent but can only show flashes of brilliance and rarely when it is most wanted and needed. It is the work we do to grow our ability that will make the biggest difference in our overall performance. When skill and talent have reached their maximums, ability can continue to grow.

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