The PRP Loop: A 3-Step System to Continuously Improve Performance

I was recently working with a coaching client who had a recurring concern: a situation that consistently threw them off balance, making them feel like they couldn’t control their emotions. They said, “That situation is ‘too much’ for me to ever learn how to manage my emotions.”

This kind of self-doubt is common, but the good news is that the heat of the moment is not when we need to make changes. In fact, trying to force a change in ourselves during those moments can backfire. Instead, real progress begins when we allow ourselves time for purposeful reflection and preparation.

Planned Reflection: Reflect on Your Performance

One of the keys to personal change is making those changes from a calm, centered state. If we can’t get ourselves calm when we’re not in a triggering situation, how can we expect to stay cool when we are in one?

Once we’re calm, we can take time for productive reflection. This is exactly how high-performance sports teams improve over time. After ‘the big game,’ they review the tapes, analyzing what worked well and what could be improved for the future.

Do you set aside time for ‘self-coaching’ to reflect on your important performances?

Just like a sports team reviews physical recordings, you have the power to use your ‘mental movies’ of past situations to review your own tapes. If you don’t take time to reflect on the times when you didn’t perform at your best—from a calm and curious state—you’re missing out on valuable learnings!

While in reflection, keep in mind that you can’t change other people or external circumstances. Your goal is to improve yourself and how you respond to those situations.

Here are some productive reflection questions to guide you:

• What triggered me?
• What behaviors worked well, and what didn’t?
• What was I paying attention to in that situation?
• What were my intentions?
• What emotional states did I access?
• What states would have been more useful?
• What knowledge or resources did I lack in that moment?

The key is to remain unemotional during this review. It’s not personal—it’s just a review of a past performance, and remember: you are more than your behaviors.

This is one of the benefits of working with a coach or using regular self-coaching time. It gives you a safe space to reflect on what you’d like to improve in your life.

Planned Preparation: Set Yourself Up for Success

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
― Archilochus

Once you’ve reflected, it’s time to shift your focus to preparation. And just like with reflection, purposeful preparation is best done from a cool, calm, and centered state.

Returning to the sports metaphor, once a team reviews the tapes, the next step is to create a plan for improvement. They don’t just hope things will be different next time—they train for it.

What are you doing to prepare for the next time you face a challenging situation?

Some examples of productive preparation questions:

• Are there practice drills I can implement?
• When will I practice, and how often?
• Are there exercises to strengthen my weak spots or build on my strengths?
• Is there research I can do to better prepare?
• Is there someone I can consult to help fill in my skill gaps?
• Would I benefit from hiring a coach or trainer in a specific area?

Again, this is where coaching or setting aside self-coaching time comes in. We reflect to learn, and then we prepare so that next time we can perform better.

The Perform, Reflect, Prepare Loop: Continuous Improvement

This is what I call the perform-reflect-prepare loop. It starts and ends with action. After each performance, you reflect on how it went and prepare for the next opportunity. With each cycle, your performance improves.

When it’s time for the big game, let go of all expectations, step into flow, and perform the best you can with your current skill level. No matter the outcome, it’s okay! You are more than your behaviors.

With repeated iterations of performing, reflecting, and preparing, you’ll progressively improve in a way that’s sustainable.

Are you ready to step into your own loop of continuous improvement? If so, consider setting up regular time for self-coaching or working with a coach to reflect, prepare, and grow. Start your loop today and experience the power of reflection, preparation, and action!