When being prepared is your biggest mistake!

We’re taught that the more prepared we are, the better we’ll perform. Yet for many of us, over-preparation becomes a hidden trap: we cling to our plan so tightly that we disconnect from what’s actually happening in front of us. In this post, I share how one coaching call exposed my own blind spot around being “too prepared”, and a simple reflection you can use to start revealing yours.

When Being Prepared Is Your Biggest Mistake

I used to think preparation was my superpower, the thing that made me confident, professional, ready for anything.
But eventually, I realised that being too prepared was also how I kept myself safe.

One of my first connection calls as a coach showed me that.
I was nervous, excited, and wanted to do a great job. So, I did what I always did, I built the perfect plan. Every question mapped out, every transition rehearsed, every outcome imagined.

It looked like confidence, but in reality, it was control.

As soon as the call started, my client went completely off-script. She opened up about things that didn’t fit into my plan, real, raw things that needed presence, not structure. I froze, and found myself trying to steer the conversation back to what I’d prepared, instead of meeting her where she was.

That’s when I realised, I was over-prepared for what I wanted to say, but under-prepared for what I needed to hear.

She didn’t feel seen. I didn’t feel connected.
And the opportunity disappeared.

I told myself I’d failed because I wasn’t “ready enough,” but that wasn’t true. I failed because I wasn’t present enough.

In that moment, I realised that I’d been using preparation as a shield, as a protection from the discomfort of not knowing what would happen next.

But life, and especially in coaching, doesn’t reward control, It rewards openness.

You don’t need a perfect script. You just need a clear direction and the courage to stay flexible when things unfold differently than planned.

If you’ve been over-preparing for something, the launch, the move or the next step, maybe pause and ask yourself:
“Am I still planning because I need to… or because I’m afraid to begin?”

Because sometimes, being prepared is just another way of staying safe.

And safety can quietly become a cage.

So this week, ask yourself:
Where am I using preparation to avoid growth?

Sit with whatever comes up, that’s where something new wants to begin.

What’s one moment you’ve realised being “ready” was getting in your way?
Reply, I’d love to hear it.