When Practice Reinforces the Wrong Thing

Now, it’s easy to assume that more practice equals better performance. That's the way we're used to. Repetition feels productive. Saying your answers out loud builds familiarity. You might even start sounding more polished.

But let me tell you; repetition alone doesn’t create improvement. It only strengthens whatever you’re repeating.

If your framing is slightly off, repetition locks it in. If your story misses the mark by just a bit, practice makes that miss smoother – not stronger. That’s how high achievers unintentionally reinforce habits that don’t serve them. See how it actually poses a slight risk?

You may not notice it happening, especially if you leave interviews feeling confident.

Here are common signs you might be reinforcing the wrong approach include:

• Practicing answers without validating whether the message truly fits the role

• Changing entire stories after one interview instead of refining specific elements

• Focusing on sounding confident rather than landing strategically

• Rehearsing delivery without examining positioning

None of this is about lack of effort. In fact, it often happens because you care deeply about getting it right.

The Difference Between Repetition and Deliberate Practice

There’s a concept called deliberate practice, and it changes how improvement works. Repetition is only one part of the equation. What drives growth are small refinements guided by accurate feedback.

So, instead of overhauling everything after each experience, deliberate practice asks for subtle adjustments. A slight shift in how you frame impact. A clearer connection between your example and their problem. A tighter structure in your response.

Your improvement happens through:

• Repeating core stories while refining one element at a time

• Identifying low-lift, high-impact adjustments

• Testing changes in controlled environments before high-stakes interviews

• Receiving feedback that highlights blind spots you can’t see alone

That feedback loop is what transforms practice into progress.

The Blind Spot High Achievers Often Miss

Many strong communicators can think on their feet. They sound polished and handle questions smoothly. And that natural fluency can mask a strategic gap.

The gap isn’t about speaking ability. It’s about whether the message is optimized for how it lands.

For example, you might preemptively address an objection that hasn’t even been raised. You might add extra explanation where clarity was already present. You might overcompensate in an attempt to appear thorough.

Individually, these seem minor. Collectively, they dilute your impact.

Strategic communication means thinking not just about what you’re saying, but how it’s being received. It’s anticipating what matters to the interviewer and shaping your responses accordingly. That skill is built through refinement, not just repetition.

Why Message Comes Before Practice

With all of this in mind... Before you rehearse your answers again, there’s a more important question to ask – is this the right message to begin with?

If the positioning is slightly off, practicing it more won’t fix the underlying issue. It simply strengthens the misalignment. That’s where many professionals unintentionally “teach the dog to walk them.” Best intentions. High effort. Zero real progress.

The foundation has to be correct before practice compounds results.

To interview well, you need:

• Clear positioning aligned to the specific role

• Stories that demonstrate relevance, not just achievement

• Structured answers that guide the listener

• Awareness of how your message lands in real time

When those elements are in place, practice amplifies your strength instead of reinforcing blind spots.

One Question That Changes Everything

If you take one action this week, let it be this question:

What am I reinforcing by continuing to practice the way I am right now?

That question shifts your mindset from effort to intention. It encourages evaluation instead of assumption. And it creates space to refine rather than restart. If you're having a hard time figuring things out whether it's on reflection or the next step to take, come and send me a message on LinkedIn and I'll be happy to chat and send some resource materials over. 

Remember, high achievers don’t struggle because they lack discipline. They struggle when discipline is applied in the wrong direction.

The goal isn’t more practice. It's better alignment before repetition begins.

When you refine the right thing before you rehearse it, preparation finally starts working for you instead of against you.