Prepare and Practice to Succeed
How we prepare and practice to improve at anything we do determines our success.
Yesterday, I presented to a large group of training officers from a significant, well-known Canadian first responder agency.
Velocity Leadership’s presentation inspires those present to set and achieve goals. We talk about:
goals to grow themselves as people,
goals to grow themselves as training officers,
goals to grow their teams into high-performing ones,
goals to grow their organization
**All to a level they had never previously thought possible.**
It is a powerful presentation (if I do say so myself), filled with stories, lessons, and anecdotes – but begins with me introducing myself as a shy schoolboy, victimized by the school bully for what I consider to be four of the worst years of my life.
The Hero’s Journey – Not Always a Walk in the Park
The meat of the presentation is about what it will take to meet those goals face-to-face. Joseph Campbell called it the HERO’S JOURNEY. I share how we evolve, change, and grow, all forged by our experiences and those we attract as fellow travelers. I also share who walks together with us on our journey as mentors. (NOTE: they are not always the mentors we would like to have around, but they are essential to our growth.)
We don’t suddenly wake up as a brave new version of ourselves.
We are the product of the work we have put in and the goals we have set and achieved.
One of my favourite quotes is from Thomas Edison, who once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
The Work Behind Success
Anything worthwhile achieving involves work. It involves effort.
After the presentation, I spent a lot of time talking with those in the room about the journey I had taken, from my origin story to the positive experience that they were part of in that room. The answer to many of the ‘How do you do what do?’ type questions involves work, effort, and practice on my part.
I am among only 62 Certified Speaking Professionals (CSP) in Canada, with fewer than 800 worldwide. The CSP is the speaking industry’s international standard of professional platform skill, and I didn’t earn it by opening the right cereal box one morning.
And so it is with Leadership.
It doesn’t come from a title (or a cereal box).
Leadership is a skill, and like any skill, it needs practice. You don’t wake up with refined leadership skills; you work at it.
Outstanding Leadership Requires Practice and Preparation
Think of the most influential leaders you’ve worked with. Were they “born” with that ability? Or did they spend hours honing it?
Practice and Preparation
You wouldn’t expect an athlete to compete without training (watch the amazing Netflix series SPRINT to realize that), and you wouldn’t send a surgeon into the operating room without years of practice. So why do we expect leaders to “figure it out” on the fly?
Rate The Most Influential Leaders in Your Career
See how many of the traits or behaviors below can be identified in your favorite leaders:
Preparation makes you proactive, not reactive
Many leaders approach their roles reactively. They respond to problems as they arise, hoping they’ll handle them well. But the best leaders don’t wait for problems to come their way. They prepare, anticipate, and plan.
Why? Because preparation breeds confidence.
When you prepare, you’re not scrambling for answers when challenges arise. You already know what to do. Your decisions are sharper, your team trusts you more, and you stay ahead of the curve.
Practicing Leadership sharpens your decision-making
Decision-making is at the heart of Leadership. But how often do we practice making decisions when the stakes aren’t high? Probably not enough.
Leaders need to create environments where they can practice decision-making. You can role-play tough situations, take on new challenges outside your comfort zone, or learn from past mistakes.
Remember: It’s not just about making decisions quickly. It’s about making decisions wisely.
Leaders who practice empathy build trust faster
Empathy is one of the most talked-about leadership traits today, and for good reason. Teams perform better when they feel understood and valued. But empathy isn’t something you can fake. You need to cultivate it intentionally.
Practice listening to your team—not just their words but their concerns, unspoken worries, and passions. The more you practice, the better you read people and understand what they need from you as a leader.
Practicing humility keeps you grounded
No leader has all the answers; the best leaders admit when they don’t. They stay curious, ask questions, and surround themselves with people smarter than they are.
But this mindset takes practice. It takes humility to admit you don’t know everything, especially when you’re in charge. Practicing this makes you more relatable and strengthens your Leadership in the eyes of your team.
Why leaders need to prepare and practice and not react
If you’re waiting for problems to arise to test your Leadership, you’re doing it wrong.
The best leaders are the ones who spend time preparing, learning, and practicing before they’re needed. They know that when challenges eventually come, as they will, prepared leaders will be ready. They’ll handle them not with panic but with poise.
How to Practice and Prepare
So, how can you build preparation into your Leadership?
Here are 4 solid suggestions.
- Set aside time to reflect. Look back at your decisions. What worked? What didn’t? Reflecting helps you grow.
- Engage in learning. Leadership is evolving. Attend seminars (see below for a suggestion!), read books, and keep your mind sharp.
- Find a mentor—someone who’s been in your shoes and can offer guidance. This is reminiscent of the Hero’s Journey.
- Create practice scenarios. Use real-life challenges to test your decision-making in team meetings or one-on-one conversations.
Bottom line: Leadership isn’t static. It’s dynamic. It’s a journey.
The best way to improve at anything is to prepare and practice. Leadership is no different. You’ll make mistakes—we all do. But those who prepare for leadership challenges and actively practice their skills don’t just survive—they thrive.
So, commit to it. Make time for it. Your team is counting on you.
Don’t Miss Sonar Leadership 2.0 in January 2025
Here at Fiore Group Training, we have built a suite of leadership training workshops for various situations in which people often find themselves.
We are about to launch a brand-new version of our incredibly popular one-day SONAR Leadership workshop.
SONAR Leadership 2.0 will be unveiled to the world in Vancouver on January 21, 2025.
It is a completely new experience, full of cutting-edge exercises and tools aspiring or current leaders can use immediately. You will leave the day armed with a toolbox like no other, ready to boost your Leadership (Hero’s) journey and supercharge the team around you.
If you want to find out if any of the 60 seats remain, please email us at info@fioregroup.org. Early bird pricing ends on September 29, 2024.
