The Symbiotic relationship between Experiential Learning and Intentional Practice
Experiential Learning: Learning Through Experience
If you are following on from our previous blog then perhaps you’re noticing the learner as a person immersed in real-world activities; allowing them to engage, reflect, and connect in order to refine their understanding through direct experience. An approach that fosters deeper learning by connecting theory to practice in meaningful ways.
Intentional Practice: Refining Skills with Purpose
Intentional practice asks for deliberate improvement - focussed repetition, feedback, and adjustments to enhance performance. Unlike passive repetition, intentional practice requires conscious effort, reflection, and refinement of techniques.
Where They Intersect
A venn diagram showing how the practice of Intentional Practice overlaps with Experiential Learning
Experiential Learning provides the context—the real-world scenarios where learning happens. Individuals with intentional practice actively refine their skills within those experiences. Together, they create a cycle where:
Experience – Engaging in a real-world activity or challenge.
Reflection – Analyzing what worked, what didn’t, and why.
Connection - joining the dots between the successes and failures in order to move forward
Adjustment – Altering thoughts and movement consciously.
Application - Applying insights to refine skills or approaches.
Repetition with Purpose – Practicing with intention to improve and change behaviours
For example, in leadership development, an experiential learning exercise might involve navigating a team challenge. Through intentional practice, leaders refine their communication, decision-making, and adaptability based on reflections from that experience.
By intentionally combining experiential learning with deliberate practice, you create a powerful cycle for growth with a likely consequence of gaining skill mastery and more impactful results.
Are you ready to start? Are you just going through the motions, or are you actively reflecting and refining your skills? Beyond the Skills Strength cards have been used for self awareness sessions across the world. Find out more here