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The Mystery of Mastery Unveiled
By George Torok
Have you ever had a dream like this? You are chasing something, something important, but you’re not sure what it is or what compels you. You are striding in slow motion, climbing over obstacles, anticipating and moving ever closer to the object of your quest. You almost reach the grail, but then you round a corner that leads to a dead end. Finally, you wake up.
You might feel frustrated and confused. You did not find what you were seeking and you can’t remember what it was.
Maybe, just maybe, the grail you seek is mastery in your profession, business or life. How might you reach that mastery?
The search for mastery starts by recognizing that there are masters and levels of mastery in every field. The Blueman group, Tom Weir, Pierre Berton, Timothy Eaton, Yoda, The Beatles, Peter Mansbridge, Bruce Lee, Jim Carey, Shania Twain, Wayne Gretzky, Albert Einstein, Terry Fox.
Not all masters are so famous. Can you identify the masters in your field? What can you learn from them? And how can you use their examples to pursue mastery?
We should all explore our own questions about mastery, even if we end up with more questions than answers – as I did when I interviewed some of the people that I consider masters in my field. (Yoda did not return my calls.) Enjoy these results of my exploration.
How do you identify the masters in any industry?
“By their positive impact and innovation. Masters don’t copy. They innovate. People doing best practices are not masters; they are only copiers. When a company puts together a new idea like a Google, it is a master – it owns the territory.”
Ian Percy, CSP, HoF, CPAE
“By the respect they receive from their contemporaries. By the kind of organization they build, the working environment they create, how they engage people. Those are hallmarks of leadership and mastery. The mastery model is not about the business but more about the person and believing they can make a difference in any environment.”
Larry Pearson, CSP
“Examine leaders and managers by how rushed and overwhelmed they appear to be. The more overwhelmed they seem, the less they are masters of what they do. Masterful leaders know how to delegate and coach their teams. Self-awareness is another test of mastery. Masters acknowledge any weakness and counterbalance it without overdoing it.”
Jim Clemmer, CSP
What is mastery?
“The first thing that comes to mind is technical skill in the job. And taking that skill to the next level where it becomes intuitive and natural as opposed to preconceived.”
Jeff Mowatt, CSP
“Mastery is reaching the top of one’s craft. Masters really know how to do what they are doing, having truly integrated all the components. Others look to the master for counsel, help or guidance.”
Linda Tarrant, CSP, HoF
“We get to a stage of mastery when all of the basics and most of the refinements are second nature, at the level of unconscious competence. Only the minute refinements require conscious effort.”
Warren Evans, CSP, HoF
“Mastery in life and business is reasonably simple to understand but difficult to apply. People resist following the simple principles of mastery because they look too simple.”
Peter Legge, CSP, HoF, CPAE
How do you recognize mastery in speakers?
“A natural, easy style – especially the ease of doing difficult things without breaking a sweat. They clearly enjoy themselves and exude confidence. Their delivery is free-flowing, like a maestro.”
Jim Beaubien, Ph.D., CSP, HoF
“I know I am looking at it when I am not aware of it unless I am looking for it. With master speakers, you have to really look at what they do with pacing and pausing to see the technique. In our business, as with most others, it takes a certain level of competence to even recognize it. One surgeon could watch another take out an appendix and say, ‘Wow, that was masterful,” but you or I would probably not recognize the level of mastery.”
Warren Evans
“There is flow – integrated, flawless and seamless. No matter what they are doing, they demonstrate the pinnacle of the craft. My sister the dentist told me that when she started she knew what she was doing, but it took s-o-o-o long; now it flows.”
Linda Tarrant
“By their level of confidence and engagement. They are there for the audience, not for themselves. You sense mastery emotionally and intellectually more that through the other senses. True mastery even touches you from a spiritual perspective. I have heard very good speakers who did not touch me.”
Larry Pearson
How does one become a master?
“No one becomes a master, although we might strive toward that. In a Zen way, we never arrive at the goal. The feeling that we have arrived leads to complacency. If we are consistently working toward the goals that line up with our values despite any frustrations, then we are definitely working toward mastery. But we don’t become masters. Rather, we are trying to improve in mastery, striving for the next level.”
Jeff Mowatt
“Build on your passion or strength; understand your own innate strengths. That is a good start. Study books or watch others in the field. Practise. Include good feedback loops in the forms of mentors, coaches, self-observation, audiences and/or customers.”
Jim Clemmer
“Be in the presence of masters. Watch others. Practise, practise, practise.”
Linda Tarrant
“You have to recognize what mastery is for you. Next, research those that you believe have reached mastery and then use them as your mentors. Have a real passion for continuous improvement. Attitude is the fuel and the motor. If there is light in your eyes and a bit of coal in the furnace, there is nothing you cannot accomplish.”
Larry Pearson
“Every time we speak, we need to believe, mentally and emotionally, that we will change the world with that speech. Maybe we won’t, but if we believe we can, imagine the energy we will bring to the platform.”
Peter Legge
“Work hard, take risks and be open to people. Masters want to learn more. The game is to really connect with people. Search your soul. Be congruent with what you were born to do. When your true purpose lines up with what you are doing, the universe will acknowledge that you are doing what you were destined for and reward you. However, I worry that some might think there is a formula. There are pieces, but you can’t scheme to do it. It has to be part of who you are.”
Ian Percy
What was common among these masters?
They wanted their answers to benefit others. They were all committed to continuous self-improvement. They were working toward their next challenge to elevate their level of mastery. They fully understood the relationship between mastery of the craft and that of the business, although they approached that in different ways. Each conveyed the simple conviction that they are doing what they were meant to do.
What’s next for you?
After pondering both the questions and the answers in this article, consider how you might discover and nurture your own true mastery. Become comfortable with your unfinished opus. Learn from the masters. Use the Force. Maybe Yoda will return your call.
© George Torok is a best-selling author, radio show host and keynote speaker. He helps organizations grow. He specializes in helping people with thinking and communication skills. You can arrange for George Torok to work with your people by calling 800-304-1861. For more information about his programs visit www.Torok.com