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You don’t know what you don’t know
It is important to recognize when you are in a state of unconscious incompetence so that you can take steps to learn more…
“Not knowing what you don’t know” is often referred to as “unconscious incompetence” in the field of education and training, and it refers to the state of being unaware of one’s own lack of knowledge or understanding in a particular area.
To understand this concept, it’s helpful to consider the opposite: conscious incompetence. This is when you are aware that you do not know or understand something. You might say to yourself, “I don’t know how to solve this math problem,” or “I don’t understand the concept of quantum mechanics.” In these cases, you are aware of your lack of knowledge and can take steps to learn more about the subject.
Unconscious incompetence, on the other hand, is when you are unaware that you don’t know something. You might think that you understand a topic, but in reality, you have a flawed or incomplete understanding of it. This can be a dangerous state to be in, because it can lead to overconfidence and poor decision-making. For example, if you think you know how to safely operate a piece of machinery, but you actually don’t, you might make a mistake that could have serious consequences.
