The Hidden Work of High Performance: The Power of Preparation

Linzy Schaller

A senior executive recently shared a story with me that stuck. In preparation for his 15min presentation of his function’s Strategic Annual Plan to the ExCom and Board, beyond the months of collective effort from his team, he personally spent 15+hrs refining those five final slides—digging into the data, honing the narrative, and rehearsing how he would deliver it. When he casually mentioned this to his team, they were shocked.

Why? Because there’s a common misconception—even among seasoned professionals—that C-suite leaders simply show up and deliver. But as he put it, “Of course I would put this much time and effort into preparing - these 15 minutes are crucial to set the stage for our success, to help the rest of the business understand what we’re trying to achieve and how, and to foster support.”

The Myth of Effortless Excellence

Research from Harvard Business Review analyzing 27 CEOs over three months found that they spend 72% of their workweek in meetings. But here’s what most don’t see: they don’t just jump from one meeting to the next. The most effective leaders enter each conversation having already thought through what they want to achieve - whether it’s sharing their perspective, soliciting input, guiding strategy, or securing buy-in. They don’t rely on intelligence or quick thinking alone; they prepare meticulously.

The Athletic Parallel: Pre-Performance Routines

We readily accept that elite athletes have structured pre-performance routines to help them perform at their best. From Michael Jordan’s free throw ball spin to Tiger Woods’ putting crouch, and from Simone Biles’ visualization pose to Rafa Nadal’s service dribbling, their consistency in preparation is widely accepted as a defining factor in their success. Research published in the International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology shows how these routines regulate focus, confidence, and execution under pressure. Yet, in the business world, we often assume that raw talent and effort alone should be enough.

Why do we expect so much of ourselves, yet prepare so little?

Making Preparation a Habit

Preparation isn’t just about reviewing slides or gathering data. How much more successful would you be if you took the time to think deeply about these 6 elements prior to conversations, meetings and projects?

• What do I think, and why?

• What are we trying to achieve, and why?

• What will success look like?

• What do we already know? 

• Who is involved, and what do they want / need?

• How will we approach this? 

A Challenge: Take Time to Think

What if, before every major meeting, presentation, or decision, you gave yourself dedicated time to think deeply? Not just to review content, but to think, to really prepare. If you prepared for your critical moments as intentionally as elite athletes do, imagine how much more effective you could be.

The best leaders don’t just walk into the room and wing it. They don’t rely on their intelligence and experience alone. They prepare - because they know that preparation isn’t extra work; it is the work!