The Ethical Professor

Good blog on “time-on-task” Mitch! You use the Tebow hoopla to great effect. Here is a thought that may build on what you wrote:

A NYTimes column by Judy Battista (January 11, 2012) suggests that like most professional athletes, Tim Tebow is a work in progress. After describing how “Tebow suddenly looked slightly more like the conventional [NFL] quarterback,” she indicates he still has a ways to go to improve his pass completion percentage.

Tebow did not have the advantage of practice with the Broncos in the summer after his graduation from Florida due to the NFL lockout (not much time-on-task). As one of his former coaches, Dan Mullen, says in the article, “his decision-making should improve with more time in the offense.” This coach emphasizes time-on-task over time, i.e., not just from week to week but year to year. Mullen goes on: “You look at guys that develop and develop. Throwing a football is a skill, and it can be developed. We live in such an instant gratification society. If Tim plays poorly against the Patriots, it will be ‘what have you done in the last game you played.’ The reality is a much bigger picture.”

Unfortunately many of us fall into what I call ‘the innate ability trap’. ‘If I can’t do it right now, it must be I’m not gifted and can never do it.’ Obviously Tim Tebow does not believe that, nor do either his former or current coaches. They expect him to develop. What leads them to believe that? They understand that good coaching and effective practice (time-on-task) over extended periods of time produce lasting development. They’re going long.

What I see in all of this is that – generally speaking – professionals seek out good coaching and practice persistently and effectively, regardless of their profession.