Mise en Place for the Mind

One of my coachees recently identified the missing link in his project workflow. (Thanks for the metaphor, Michael Caçoilo! - shared with permission.)

He had developed the right structure for him: breaking big tasks into smaller chunks and blocking time to get them done. But something still felt off. When he sat down to start, he’d often find himself gathering resources, opening documents, or waiting on input from others which seemed like wasted time, because he wasn’t hitting his intended goal for that block.

Finally his "Aha" moment struck - “It’s like cooking!” he said. “I love it, but only when I have already decided the meal, pulled the recipe and purchased the ingredients. That’s what makes it enjoyable.”

His insight was simple but powerful: without pre-work, even the best plan can feel like a flop. For him, pre-work meant identifying and gathering the ingredients before the first time block begins. Whether that pre-work becomes its own time chunk or just a series of tiny prep steps somewhere leading up to it, it can make the real work flow.

It reminded me of an early moment in my career when I skipped clinic prep entirely (like I was in urgent care or something!) - but just once. I walked into an appointment and asked the patient what brought him in. (Evidently - I had asked him to return and he wasn't pleased I didn't remember it! 🤦🏼♀️). With a sincere apology and a little time, we rebuilt the rapport. That misstep was memorable! Ever since, when I've been seriously behind and tempted to skip the prep - I aim to at least know the reason for the visit, their last visit, and their prob list/meds.

Prepping ahead doesn’t just support performance - it also deepens connection. Whether it’s a patient visit or a project kickoff, the pre-work helps you show up ready: to engage, to lead, to build trust, and to make meaningful progress. And let’s be honest: it's also way more fun to feel competent and present than to be scrambling midstream. Sometimes the smallest mindset shifts (like viewing prep as mise en place) can turn a task from “ugh” to “I’ve got this.”.

Reflection

• Where are you skipping the mise en place—professionally or personally?
• What’s one shift in your prep or mindset that could change how you show up?