Train for the future, be prepared, don’t get surprised, and have a plan B. Perfect Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

A curious thing. I have been told on numerous occasions that I am good at improvisation. I can come up with good ideas on the spot, talk about a topic without much thought, and make decisions without over-analyzing. It might sound a bit paranoid, but it may seem this way to others because I have most likely already considered these scenarios in the past. What may appear as improvisation is, in fact, just good preparation.

Fortune favors the well-prepared, a motto of my life. Living by it has enabled me to achieve many things I thought I could not.

Train for the future, not the present

Be a forward-thinking individual. Avoid dwelling on the past. Always strive to anticipate what lies ahead and be prepared for it. Much of the training I have undergone followed this approach. It focused less on immediate needs and more on skills that could prove useful in the medium or long term. Whether it was my MBA education, coaching training, participation in Toastmasters sessions, or even writing this blog today, the underlying motivation was always the potential future need for these skills.

“Train for the next job, not just the one you currently have.”

This strategy pays off when you clearly understand your goals, your desired direction in life, and your core values. By being prepared, you can readily embrace opportunities as they arise or create them yourself, thereby increasing your chances of success. In essence, it can be summarized as “always train for the next job, not just the one you currently have.”

An important point to note here is that I am not suggesting that you neglect to live in the present and appreciate what you have today. On the contrary, to be happy, it is crucial to live in the moment and find joy in the small things as they occur. However, it is equally important to take proactive steps to ensure that these moments of happiness continue to manifest in the future.

Always be prepared

It requires consistent preparation if you want to perform at the highest level consistently. While being good at your job may allow occasional improvisation, relying on it all the time can lead to inconsistencies in communication and priorities. Being prepared is crucial for building a positive image as a manager and leader. It means always being aware of what’s happening, having accurate information, forming fact-based opinions, and being consistent and reliable.

For instance, consider a simple meeting. If you have a well-prepared agenda and talking points for each topic, you can focus on the important issues. This enables you to deliver your message in an organized and impactful manner. You will be perceived as a confident leader who knows what they are doing and is capable.

Don’t get surprised

I dislike surprises, especially in my professional life. Surprises indicate that I was not anticipating something, had not planned or prepared for it, or had failed to communicate effectively. I prioritize maintaining strong communication with my team and regularly engaging with important stakeholders to minimize the likelihood of being caught off guard. Although there may occasionally be minor surprises, such as things happening more quickly than expected, I strive to ensure that significant surprises are rare.

For instance, in project management, monitoring risks and assessing their probability of occurrence is important. When overseeing projects, I encourage my team to evaluate the project’s current status and identify three risks with the most significant impact and three with the highest probability of occurring. If the team is unable to identify three risks, I encourage them to think harder and push for a more thorough analysis. When the most significant risk identified is something trivial like “we may run out of coffee and become tired,” I know that the project is relatively safe.

Have a Plan B

As the old saying goes, “If you don’t have a Plan B, you don’t have a plan at all.” When it comes to critical or important matters in life, you should never rely on just one option, person, idea, or goal. Just as you would with your money, it is important to diversify your portfolio to reduce or at least limit risks and negative consequences. While you may always have a preferred option for what to do or how to do it, other options may be close enough, so you should always keep an open mind. This is especially true when you don’t have full control and external forces could impact your efforts. And yes, you should put all your energy and focus into achieving the primary objective. However, having a Plan B provides you with an alternative when all your efforts have failed, allowing you to easily cut your losses and start in a new direction without much hassle.

You don’t need to have every detail of your Plan B figured out, but you must be able to turn to it quickly when things go wrong. Typically, in business, you would have disaster recovery or business continuity plans in place. These plans are usually high-level as the chances of needing them are slim, but when the time comes, you and your team need to be able to act on them swiftly. For example, if your office catches fire or gets flooded, you need to have a way to continue the business without significant interruption.

The concept of 6P

I love the concept of the 6P, believed to have originated from the British army during WWII: Perfect Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. There are different versions, from 5P to 12P, but the 6P is easy to remember and goes nicely with my life motto “Fortune favors the well-prepared.”

“Perfect Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.”

I would add one more “P” – Perseverance to ensure that this concept delivers on its promise. It may not rhyme with the rest, but is a crucial component. When you decide to do something, then do it and do it consistently. Don’t give up until you have achieved the goal you set out to achieve. I’m not saying that you should be stubborn or inflexible. If the circumstances change, then you should re-evaluate your destination or the strategy to reach it.

If the only reasons for giving up are excuses like “I don’t have time” or “I’m too lazy today,” then you need to remind yourself of the seventh P and persevere. The reward will eventually come in the form of achieving what you set out to achieve.

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What are your productivity tips? Do you follow the 6P principle? Do you have another suggestion for better planning and preparation?

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