Talent is Built

“Although talent feels and looks predestined, in fact we have a good deal of control over what skills we develop, and we have more potential than we might ever presume to guess.” ~ Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code

When you think of talent, do you picture it as a special gift that only some are born with? Daniel Coyle, author of The Talent Code, says we should rethink that. He argues that talent isn't about your genes or the outcome of a perfect parenting—it's something you can build. Through years of research into elite performers in sports, music, and business, Coyle uncovered a surprising truth: greatness isn't given—it's coded through three key ingredients—deep practice, ignition, and masterful coaching.

In this post let’s focus on deep practice: Imagine trying to learn a new song on the piano. At first, the neural pathways in your brain are rough, slow, and inefficient. But as you repeat the task, especially the hard parts where mistakes happen, something starts to happen in your brain. A substance called myelin starts to wrap around your neural pathways, turning those rough trails into fast, smooth highways. The more you engage in deep, focused repetition—especially when you’re stretching just beyond your comfort zone—the thicker that myelin gets, and the more automatic and precise your skills become.

Deep practice isn't just mindless repetition. It’s messy, mistake-filled, and often frustrating - and that’s where the magic happens. Coyle emphasizes that the best kind of learning comes from targeted struggles. You're literally rewiring your brain to perform better, faster, and with greater consistency.

The secret to this is to break it down - chunk whatever you're practicing into the smallest possible units. Want to master Beethoven’s 5th? Don’t play the whole piece over and over. Instead, split it into lines, focus on each, fix every mistake, then slowly stitch them back together. Whether you’re learning an instrument, writing a speech, or perfecting a sales pitch, this laser focus method is the difference between dabbling and attaining real mastery.

The bottom line? Talent isn’t fate—it’s a formula. With the right spark to get you going (ignition), guidance from a great coach, and a commitment to deep, deliberate practice, you can literally build your talent bank and excellence. While this seems more clear for skills like learning to play the piano - I believe it’s also true of leadership skills and competencies. For example, if you struggle to hold people responsible/accountable and it’s hurting your leadership and your organizations culture; get a good coach, practice difficult conversations in low risk contexts, grow your myelin to become more excellent at direct feedback and consequences. If you don’t grow your leadership ‘talent’ - these kind of constraints will constrain both you and your organization.

Where can you apply this in your life and leadership?