Mow Your Lawns First: Paul Williams on Preparation, Mental Fitness and Leading Under Pressure

Leadership under pressure is not about pretending everything is under control. It is about knowing what is yours to control and having the tools to respond well.On today’s The MOST 100.4 FM Business Hour episode, Sponsored by Govett Quilliam, Dr Naomi Woodier-Harris and Jordan McFadyen spoke with Paul Williams, Taranaki-born professional rugby referee with New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby, about pressure, preparation, mental fitness and values-led leadership.Key takeaways from the conversation:- Preparation is where confidence starts. Paul shared the “mow your lawns” concept: get your foundations in order so you can show up with clarity.- Role clarity matters. In refereeing, the team of four needs absolute clarity on responsibilities. The same applies in business. When people know what they own, review and accountability become cleaner.- Mental fitness is trained, not assumed. Paul spoke about the importance of practising presence, managing internal language and using tools like “Stop, Observe, Shift” when pressure rises.- Composure is contagious. In one example with Ardie Savea, Paul shared how staying calm helped lower the temperature of the moment.- Feedback should be normalised. High-performing teams do not avoid robust conversations. They build enough trust to have them properly.- Values guide decisions. When you know your values, it becomes easier to make decisions under pressure and lead yourself before leading others.A brilliant conversation for business owners, leaders and teams who want to build resilience, clarity and better performance under pressure.