Working Under Pressure: Be At Your Best When it Matters

Everyone feels pressure at certain times, but  some people feel it more than others. And some  people handle it differently. There are people that  fold under even the slightest pressure, while  others thrive under a moderate amount of  pressure, but succumb to the power of pressure  as the magnitude increases.  There is also a small group of people that  seem to be addicted to pressure. They often work  on Wall Street, in emergency rooms, or as risk taking entrepreneurs. Given the wide range of  responses, pressure and stress are interesting  topics.  One prominent psychologist has proven his  skill to predict which couples will divorce with an  accuracy rate of 94%. The best criterion he has  found to predict which marriages will last  and which will not is the ability to deal with  pressure. How couples deal with high-pressure conversations in their relationship is the best  predictor of marriage success or failure.  The ability to manage pressure can influence  every part of your life: • Physical health  • Mental and emotional health  • Relationships  • The ability to parent  • Career  • Finances  Your skill in handling stress and pressure can  affect these different aspects of your life. Since  pressure is a common part of life, learning to  handle it appropriately makes a lot of sense.  One of the great myths perpetuated  regarding high-performers and pressure is  that they “rise to the occasion.” The idea that  some people perform at average levels under  normal amounts of pressure and perform better under high pressure has been proven to be false.  However, they can perform at a comparable level  under high pressure while others suffer from  poorer performances.  Numerous studies of baseball players, golfers,  and basketball players show that no one has  consistently performed better under clutch  conditions than they do under normal conditions.  Michael Jordan hit 49.7% of his shots over his  career. His percentage when taking game-winning  shots? 48.0%.  No player has ever been considered more  reliable under pressure, and he was just slightly  worse under pressure than he was under normal  game conditions. Far more impressive than most,  but still not proof that anyone performs better  under high pressure.  Pressure affects everyone. It influences some  more than others. Regardless of your present ability to deal with  pressure, you can do better. There are  numerous tools and strategies available for  those that want to deal successfully with  pressure. The responsibility to use them is yours. https://twitter.com/PNB_Podcast https://frontlinecoachingllc.wordpress.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wayne-weathersby/support Subscribe today and join a community that’s growing stronger every week. The Productive NOT Busy Podcast isn’t just a show—it’s your playbook for creating momentum, building confidence, and living life on purpose.