Daniel Coyle has done it again with an excellent book!  “The Little Book of Talent” is an excellent companion to his previous book, “The Talent Code”.  “The Talent Code” presents the theory and background of how talent is developed and the “The Little Book of Talent” provides bite-size tips how talent may be developed.

The book is divided into three sections:

1.  Getting Started – This section provides motivation and provides a blueprint for skills you want to develop.

2.  Improving Skills – In this section the author presents a compendium of methods and techniques to help you reach the “sweet spot” to effectively develop a skill.

3.  Sustaining Progress – This is a great section for overcoming plateaus in skill development, keeping motivation strong, and developing habits for long-term success.

The underlying principle behind many of these tips is “Small actions, repeated over time, transform us” (xviii).  Here is a sampling of some of the tips presented:

Tip #1 Stare at who you want to become

This tip emphasizes having good role models to study.  As you see someone else perform a skill you start to think, “If that person can do it then why can’t I?”

Tip #7 Before you start, figure out if it’s a hard skill or a soft skill

This tip is worth the price of the book.  It differentiates between hard skills that require repeatable and precise skills vis-à-vis soft skills that require recognizing patterns and making holistic decisions.

Tip #13 Find the sweet spot

The sweet spot is the place of maximum learning and is characterized by full engagement “as if you’re stretching with all your might for a nearly unreachable goal, brushing it with your fingertips, then reaching again” (p. 42).

Tip #21 Think in images

This is a great help since images are much easier for us to grasp and recall.

Tip # 50 Cultivate your grit

“Grit is that mix of passion, perseverance, and self-discipline that keeps us moving forward in spite of obstacles” (p. 110).  Grit has been one of the most accurate predictors of retention at West Point.

If you are involved in any type of skill development you will find this book invaluable.  I highly recommend both of these books and you may want to investigate Daniel Coyle’s website. 

 What have you found especially helpful when developing a new skill?