Want faster growth? Don’t practice alone

When can you practice—and with whom?

This is the fourth post in the BE Series on BEing Skillful.

It’s hard to practice alone, isn’t it?

Sometimes we avoid asking someone to practice with us because we’re not yet as good at the new skill as we want to be. We worry about looking bad or foolish. But remember—everyone who is now good at the skill you’re working on was once a beginner. Chances are, they’ll be charmed and even honored that you asked them to join you. They might even offer insights that accelerate your progress.

Maybe that’s your next skill to practice—the skill of asking for help. Or maybe it’s one of those adjacent skills that grows alongside the main one. How great is that?

This week, here’s what to do:

1. Identify one person you could invite to be your practice partner. It could be a colleague, mentor, peer, or even someone learning alongside you.
2. Reach out and ask. Keep it simple: “I’m working on ___. Would you be willing to practice with me once a week for a few weeks?”
3. Schedule a recurring time. Don’t leave it to chance. Put it on both calendars so the practice keeps moving forward.
4. Agree on the format. Decide what you’ll actually do in that time—role-play, review work, share feedback, or simply practice side by side.

Skill grows best in community. Having a partner not only makes practice more effective, it makes it more fun.

Now, go get a practice buddy!