Performing Under Pressure: How to Ace That Shift!
Performing well under pressure is tough, especially if it’s a situation that induces severe anxiety and stress. The truth is, nobody likes pressure, but the thing that differentiates successful people from those who fail is that they’re able to mitigate the negative effects of their environment while working under pressure.
Here are some ways you can ace that shift under pressure!
Understand that it’s not a life and death situation
People view high pressure situations as threatening. This causes the body to shut down. By viewing pressure as a threat, you’re affecting your work productivity and undermining your self-confidence. This saps your energy and prevents you from performing to the best of your abilities.
To prevent this from happening, challenge yourself on a daily basis to get used to mental exertion. This will allow you to focus on the task at hand effectively.
Focus on the task more than the outcome
Reaching your goal seems almost impossible when working under pressure. When you’re caught up with worrying about the consequences, you fail to focus on your actions and end up jeopardizing the goal in the process.
If you are not enjoying yourself on your journey toward your goal, you’re ripping yourself off. Trust me. There are enough people willing to do that for you.
Focusing on the task at hand will enable you to clearly visualize the steps you need to take to reach the goal in time.
Take control of the situation
In pressure situations, there are only a handful of factors you have control over. If you are focused on what you can’t control, it’s easy to become sucked into a thought process that’s demoralizing and harmful for your mental health. Instead of focusing on the uncontrollable, find solace in the fact that you are still in control of some aspects of the situation. Channel your energy to make those factors work in your favor without missing a beat.
Slow down and breathe
High pressure situations require quick thinking, which speeds up our thinking process. Moving too fast robs us of the ability to think clearly, though. We end up missing details we wouldn’t have under normal circumstances. The best thing to do is to slow down and take a second to formulate a plan.
It’s an inner awareness that allows you to step back and see the bigger picture—i.e., how you view these events and the actions you take are more important than the actual event.
If there’s anything you can learn from Steve Rizzo’s story, it’s that you shouldn’t let challenges and problems overwhelm you. The best way to perform well under pressure is to channel your energy toward finding positivity regardless of the cards you’ve been dealt.
Book Steve Rizzo, the motivational and corporate speaker, for your next corporate event. Watch as he inspires and transforms countless through his witty charm, humor and wisdom. You can also buy his bestsellers Motivate THIS! and Get Your SHIFT Together for insight into his life-altering secrets for success in the business world.
