Which says more to you? Expertise or Mastery

[terry]

I'm putting final touches on the next TI self-coaching aid, a followup to last year's release of the Ultra Efficient Freestyle Complete Self-Coaching Toolkit.Since I began working on it, I've used the working title "Expert" Skills, but as I get closer to release I wonder whether TI *Mastery* Skills might be the better term-of-art. The technique skills include Catch-and-Press, impeccably-tuned 2BK, and Seamless Breathing. I'm inviting input before making this critical decision. What's your most instinctive response to the term Expert vs Mastery? Does one strike you as more inviting, more accessible, more inspiring? And why?

[Tom Pamperin]

Originally Posted by terry

I'm putting final touches on the next TI self-coaching aid, a followup to last year's release of the Ultra Efficient Freestyle Complete Self-Coaching Toolkit.Since I began working on it, I've used the working title "Expert" Skills, but as I get closer to release I wonder whether TI *Mastery* Skills might be the better term-of-art. The technique skills include Catch-and-Press, impeccably-tuned 2BK, and Seamless Breathing. I'm inviting input before making this critical decision. What's your most instinctive response to the term Expert vs Mastery? Does one strike you as more inviting, more accessible, more inspiring? And why?

Terry,

I love that you're seeking feedback for this. I like "mastery" a lot better, as anyone can imagine themselves working toward "mastery" but might think themselves undeserving of the "expert" label.

I think "mastery" is more inspiring, and also lends itself better to fitting the non-tangible aspects of TI. Just off the top of my head--I'll add more if I think of anything else.

Tom

[Zenturtle]

Mastery sounds better. Includes body and mind.
Expert sounds more rational,theoretical, technical, learnt from a book.

[Danny]

I had no opinion on this until I read the above two responses, but now I agree with both of them. Mastery sounds better.

[Richardsk]

I'm also in favour of mastery.

[CoachStuartMcDougal]

Mastery implies continuous improvement, commitment, seeking perfection as perceptions and values change. I found this description of "personal mastery": "Personal mastery is a set of specific principles and practices that enables a person to learn, create a personal vision, and view the world objectively". See: http://study.com/academy/lesson/pers...ples-quiz.html . Unique to each individual, not a declared level.

Expert is more high level of skill and understanding, a level for the few, not the many. Expert doesn't imply continuous improvement or change.

Stuart

[tomoy]

+1 for Mastery. Expert has the sense of having arrived and likely on a plane of best-ever (Olympic) expertise. It invites critique as well.

Mastery has that ongoing progress feel and coincidentally relates with Masters swimming.

[Tom Pamperin]

Originally Posted by Zenturtle

Mastery sounds better. Includes body and mind.
Expert sounds more rational,theoretical, technical, learnt from a book.

Yes, you said what I was trying to explain about the "expert" label. Also, mastery implies the development of discipline (again, a goal to work toward) while expert implies someone who has developed a high degree of skill (and may thus be less inviting).

[lloyddinma]

Originally Posted by terry

I'm putting final touches on the next TI self-coaching aid, a followup to last year's release of the Ultra Efficient Freestyle Complete Self-Coaching Toolkit.Since I began working on it, I've used the working title "Expert" Skills, but as I get closer to release I wonder whether TI *Mastery* Skills might be the better term-of-art. The technique skills include Catch-and-Press, impeccably-tuned 2BK, and Seamless Breathing. I'm inviting input before making this critical decision. What's your most instinctive response to the term Expert vs Mastery? Does one strike you as more inviting, more accessible, more inspiring? And why?

Hi Terry...

I am a little late to the party.

I tend to prefer the working title "Expert Skills". It is more appealing to swimmers of my cadre, who just want to progress to a level of proficiency and leave it at that, leaving the philosophy of kaizen to other spheres.

Furthermore, you already state the skills to be transferred -- Catch-and Press and impeccably- tuned 2BK etc. It is not yet my understanding that kaizen plays a role here, skills seem binary: I take it the reader should have seamless breathing after applying the techniques or not. So "Expert" might seem more applicable.

Whereas in the context of say competitive swimming, there will always be room to improve on a variable such as speed, stamina etc. You want to master how to keep improving.

But then again these thing are subjective. :)

Terry & All,

This is my first ever post to this forum, as previous 3 month I was kind of sponge that absorb abundant knowledge shared in this forum - thanks to all contributors

English is not my mother tongue language ( as I am an Indonesian) and personally i prefer 'Mastery' over 'Expert with some reason:
1. you have to be expert before you reach a level of mastery
2. mastery implied that you combine the expertise that you have with other aspects to be implemented/transfered
3. you can train to be an expert but i think to be a master require more than just a brain (i.e. softer skills
4. somehow i feel like comparing the word Guru vs. Teacher

just my two cent
Regards,
Boby