Trickle Back

Part of your role as a leader is to assess the skills and development progression of your team.
Your brain will bias towards identifying gaps or things which are incorrect.
In order to effectively develop new skills and change behaviour, you need to follow the trickle back of a skill gap.


Identifying the gap is a statement of reality that facilitates little learning and no real behavioural change.
Pointing out the gap exists is important.
Clarifying what skill needs to be bolstered to develop the gap is more important.


When you identify a gap, your brain does not immediately associate what perspective, experience, or skill you
have developed which enables you to see the gap.
You need to trickle back your thinking from the gap to answering an important question: “what skill or information is missing which creates the gap?”
The result of the trickle back is the thing which you can actively develop to create behaviour change.


If your espresso pour is too short and thin, that is the gap.
Your trickle back may identify that an awareness of grind size or tamping pressure could be the underlying skill needing development.
Addressing the gap is simple; clarifying and digging into the underlying skill is the work of leadership.



Alofa, Tautua, Latte,
- Morning Cup