Leadership readiness: How pre-performance routines can work for senior leaders

mstopforth
Apr 30, 2023
2 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

In high-pressure moments, the difference between good and great leadership often comes down not just to what you know, but to how well you can access your best thinking, presence, and confidence when it matters most.

This is where pre-performance routines come in. Borrowed from elite sport, but highly relevant to leadership, these are the intentional habits or practices you engage in before a key event or decision, helping you show up with clarity, focus, and energy, even under pressure.

In this article, we’ll explore what pre-performance routines are, why they matter for leaders, and how you can develop practices that help you perform at your best when it counts.

What Are Pre-Performance Routines for Leaders?

Pre-performance routines are the mental, emotional, and practical steps you take before a high-stakes leadership moment to help you prepare.

This might include:

Reviewing key goals or priorities
Taking a moment for deep breathing or mental centering
Visualising the desired outcome or tone of a meeting
Mentally rehearsing how you’ll handle challenges or curveballs
Physically setting up your space or tools for success

Just as athletes warm up before competition, leaders benefit from preparing both mind and body before stepping into critical moments.

Why Are They Important?

For senior leaders, the stakes are often high: decisions ripple across teams, conversations shape culture, and presence influences confidence. Pre-performance routines help you:

Physically prepare: managing your energy, posture, and focus so you show up alert and ready.

Mentally prepare: clarifying your intentions, reducing unnecessary anxiety, and entering with a focused, constructive mindset.

Create consistency: using familiar rituals or practices that ground you, even when stepping into uncertain or high-pressure situations.

In short, these routines reduce the interference (distractions, stress, self-doubt) that can block your access to your full potential.

How Can Leaders Develop Effective Pre-Performance Routines?

Developing a personal routine takes intentionality and experimentation. Here’s how to start:

Anchor in your purpose: Before a key event, ask: What’s the most important outcome here? What do I want to bring into the room? This helps focus your energy.

Use mental preparation techniques: Try deep breathing, visualisation, or brief reflection to centre yourself. Focus not on perfection, but on presence.

Experiment and adjust: Notice what helps you feel most focused, confident, and clear. Refine your approach over time.

Be consistent: Once you find what works, use it regularly. Familiar pre-performance practices can create a sense of steadiness even in unpredictable environments.

Why This Matters for Leadership Performance

At The Performance Equation, we help leaders understand that success isn’t just about pushing harder. It’s about unlocking your true potential by removing the distractions, pressures, and habits that get in the way.

Pre-performance routines are one small but powerful tool to help you access your best leadership when it matters most, whether you’re stepping into a high-stakes conversation, making a critical decision, or leading your team through change.