Recently I read an article by a sports psychologist called “A Pre-Shot Routine.” The article speaks to the importance of having a routine for everything you do. This routine becomes part of your visual and muscle memory, which increases the odds that you will perform at your best during the game and in crucial moments.
The overall message is whatever you do before it’s time to perform, the most important thing to remember is being consistent by doing the same thing over and over again.
I know that before I get on a stage to present to an audience, whether it’s 5 people or 500 people I have my own routine. I like to remove myself from the room and find a quiet place. Once there I take about a minute to reset myself, clear my thoughts and decide exactly what I plan to say to begin my presentation. I’ve done that for over 30 years and continue to do so because it works.
Think about all your favorite athletes. You can probably describe at least one of their routines or habits prior to stepping up to the batter’s box, making a pitch, catching or throwing a ball or lining up a putt. While the consistency of the routine doesn’t guarantee success, it helps them increase the odds of higher performance.
You may ask why this is important to you or your business. Well, let’s think about that for a minute.
Success in business and in life is no accident, It’s the result of years of practice and the creation of productive habits. We don’t get to decide our future, we decide on our habits and those habits, good or bad will decide our future. If you really think about it, we are all simply a by-product of our habits. I’ve heard it said that the most successful people in the world have made a habit out of doing things others aren’t willing to do.
Think about your last successful client interaction, team meeting or personal communication. What did you do prior to this event that caused it to be successful? I doubt you just decided to wing it. You planned and studied for it, probably identified or visualized an outcome you were looking for, practiced what you wanted to do or say, and when the time came to execute, you performed at a level that produced the result you wanted.
I suggest that if you ever want to have this type of success again, figure out exactly what you did prior to the event, document it and duplicate this routine each and every time.
It doesn’t matter if you are in sales, lead a team, provide service, coach, teach, train or just want to build better relationships, using this method helps. While it won’t guarantee success, creating a consistent habit and routine prior to these engagements, will increase the odds that you will perform at a much higher level.
This week, think about a previous success story in your business or in your life and answer the following questions.
- What happened or what outcome did I get?
- What did I do prior to this event to prepare myself for this type of success?
- How can I repeat this habit consistently the next time I’m in a similar situation?
- What is my pre-shot routine going to be moving forward?
Write out your success blueprint today and start preparing yourself to consistently perform at a higher level. Remember, there is usually no such thing as an overnight success, and when it looks like it’s there, it usually doesn’t last. You can build long-term success with practice and creating the right habits.
Thoughts for the week:
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. –Aristotle
All bad habits start slowly and gradually and before you know you have the habit, the habit has you. –Zig Ziglar
We first make our habits, and then our habits make us. –John Dryden
Not managing your time and making excuses are two bad habits. Don’t put them both together by claiming you “don’t have the time.” Bo Bennett
Good habits are worth being fanatical about. –John Irving
Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters. –Nathaniel Emmons
Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of.- Unknown
Cheers to your continued success
One Quarter Turn at a Time
Coach Tim
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