I recently met several of the world’s top archers at World Archery’s Centre of Excellence in Switzerland. Archers are broad in their preparation, from the food they eat and the attire they wear to the hundreds of arrows they shoot each day and the precise tension of their bows. However, in competition, every action is streamlined; they channel countless hours into a single moment of focus, precision, and release. Observing these athletes revealed that the best performers follow a deliberate mental process to reinforce consistency under pressure. Their strategies show that precision in preparation and performance goes beyond the target, it builds a resilient mindset, strengthened by controlled self-talk through imagery.
Mental performance is as crucial as physical skill for elite athletes, and imagery is indispensable. Research shows that mental imagery activates similar brain regions as those involved in physical performance. Guillot and colleagues (2008) found that imagery improves motor skills by enhancing neural efficiency, effectively creating “muscle memory” in the brain before physical action even takes place. Athletes across sports use imagery to mentally rehearse movements, outcomes, and even their emotional responses to high-stress situations. For example, American archer Matt Stutzman dedicated two months solely to mental training before the 2024 Paralympics, where he won gold, remarking, “Mental training works, I cannot believe it!” Similarly, golfers like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have attributed their success to mentally rehearsing every detail of a shot before taking it.
This science-backed approach isn’t just about “imagining success” but about developing a multi-sensory mental script that primes the mind for peak performance. Through structured, focused imagery, athletes can isolate each part of the process, building confidence and reducing mental interference.
In leadership, imagery is a game changer, enabling executives to rehearse high-pressure scenarios, refine their decision-making, and build resilience. This may be why many executives are drawn to precision sports like archery and golf, which demand a structured process, strategic foresight, and emotional control. Leadership success also depends on a mindset that balances careful preparation with the ability to act decisively. In my work in functional imagery training (FIT), I’ve seen how these techniques, similar to those used by elite archers, can help leaders sharpen focus, make strategic decisions, and lead with precision.
Precision Under Pressure: The Leader’s Aim
For archers, staying calm and focused under pressure is essential. In competition, each shot counts, and a single distraction can be the difference between victory and loss. Elite archers use imagery to mentally rehearse each aspect of hitting the target; how the shot feels, the movement, the release—allowing them to stay focused at critical moments.
Leaders, too, need to “aim” with precision, keeping focus on important goals under pressure. Imagery can help leaders define a clear “target,” mentally rehearsing their steps toward desired outcomes, whether it’s a complex project or a challenging conversation. This technique helps leaders stay calm, centered, and resilient, honing their ability to hit their “target” in real-life scenarios.
Timing the Release: Decisiveness in Action
Timing is vital in archery; an archer must release the arrow at the exact moment of alignment. Waiting too long or rushing the release affects accuracy; they learn to trust their instincts. This sense of timing, refined through imagery, allows them to act confidently.
For leaders, timing can determine an organization’s direction. Well-timed decisions drive success, while mistimed actions can create setbacks. Leaders can use imagery to rehearse different scenarios and responses, refining their sense of timing to make confident, effective decisions.
Focus and Letting Go: Finding Balance in Leadership
A key aspect of archery is balancing control with release. Archers work tirelessly on technique, but once they release the arrow, they surrender control. This balance between control and letting go enables them to avoid overthinking and achieve peak performance.
Effective leadership also requires a balance between control and flexibility. Leaders need to empower others, set clear goals, and trust the team’s execution. Imagery allows leaders to mentally rehearse “letting go” scenarios, imagining each step they can control, from setting expectations to resource preparation, and then “releasing” the outcome to build trust in their team’s ability to succeed.
Building Resilience: Recovering from Misses
Every archer, no matter how skilled, occasionally misses the mark. What sets elite athletes apart is their resilience: the ability to recover and refocus for the next shot. Top archers often use imagery to build resilience, mentally preparing their responses to setbacks and helping them move forward with confidence instead of frustration.
Leadership Essential Reads
Resilience is equally vital in leadership, where setbacks and unexpected challenges are inevitable. Leaders can adopt the archer’s mindset by using imagery to mentally rehearse resilience. When facing a setback or a challenging situation, a leader can imagine the experience, acknowledge any frustration, and imagine refocusing with clarity. This technique helps leaders “bounce back” and fosters resilience within their teams, showing that setbacks can lead to growth.
Precision Leadership: An Archer’s Mindset for Lasting Impact
Imagery, as practiced by elite archers, offers valuable lessons for leaders aiming to enhance their focus, timing, and resilience. When applied thoughtfully, these techniques foster a precision-focused mindset, equipping leaders to guide their teams with clarity and composure. In archery, each release represents the culmination of countless hours of mental and physical training. For leaders, every decision, conversation, and action can reflect this same commitment to purposeful leadership.
Just as an archer focuses on a single target, a precision leader uses imagery to zero in on goals, preparing their mind to stay steady, act decisively, and adapt under pressure. This leadership style isn’t just about achieving results; it’s about inspiring teams, effective decision-making, and leading with clarity and purpose.
In our modern world, imagery training offers leaders a powerful tool to stay aligned with their purpose, build resilience, and foster a sharp, focused mindset. Whether you’re already leading or aspiring to, consider taking a page from the archer’s playbook: aim with focus, release with trust, and be prepared for whatever comes next.
