Staying Cool Under Pressure

Almost everyone is required at one time or another to perform under pressure at work. The very fact that you have a job means that you are expected to perform tasks, produce results, and adhere to policies and standards. When a team has a really good year, the organisation doesn't say: "thank you—you can relax a bit next year." The expectation is that the team will perform even better. This means more pressure!

Have you noticed that some people really thrive under pressure while others just cave under it? They can't cope. Coping with pressure and stress is not an innate personality trait that you do or do not have—it is in fact a skill that anyone can learn.

Dr. David H. Olson, Professor Emeritus of the University of Minnesota, concluded after extensive research that there are four coping skills needed to effectively deal with pressure or stress:

Problem Solving: the ability to face up to problems and deal with them when they arise, rather than avoiding them or procrastinating about dealing with them, or looking for someone or something to blame.

Communication: the ability to openly discuss problems or situations that are causing pressure or stress, rather than keeping it all to yourself.

Closeness: the ability to build relationships based on mutual trust so you have people you can talk to about the pressure you are experiencing and explore potential solutions.

Flexibility: the ability to effectively deal with unstructured or unpredictable situations, or unplanned change.

Leaders are typically under more pressure than individual performers—they have the added pressure of getting their team to produce the results expected of them, and they also have personnel problems to deal with. The more effective you are at each of these four coping skills, the more effective you will be as a leader.

Staying Cool Under Pressure