Regardless of what we do, surely at some point in our lives we will feel more pressure than in others. For this reason, we must know how to function under pressure and know how to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Going against popular wisdom, which is sometimes not so wise, we do not perform better than in a situation without pressure. We will be able to do well, we will be able to be productive, we will be able to get ahead, but it is a reality that being under pressure our performance is affected. For this reason it is important to know how to control it so that we get the best out of each situation, no matter how complex it may seem.
“Pressure is the enemy of success; it’s a saboteur that negatively impacts our cognitive function and our performance,” say psychologist Hendrie Weisinger and performance coach JP Pawliw-Fry. Together, they are authors of the best-seller How to Perform Under Pressure: The Science of Giving Your Best When It Matters Mosta book born from the research of more than 12,000 people, from employees of Fortune 500 companies to Olympic athletes, where they explain why we “drown” under pressure and tell us how to prevent it.
How to turn obstacles into opportunities
1. Remember that it is not the last chance.
Great entrepreneurs have needed multiple opportunities to achieve their goals. It is not for nothing that Robert Kiyosaki says that 9 out of 10 companies fail; so keep that in mind. Can situations that put you under a lot of pressure be great opportunities? Yes; And are they the last chance you’ll have? Most likely not.
2. Think of the worst case scenario.
It seems counterproductive but it is very effective; And beware, it is not about being negative. Thinking about the “what ifs” is very helpful, because in this way you can take preventive measures to successfully get out of situations under pressure.
Do you have to present your business plan and are you afraid that the usb will be damaged? Carrying a backup is easy and can get you out of a bind.
3. Create a routine.
The goal of planning a routine for the minutes leading up to that pressure situation is so you can’t get distracted and focus on what’s important. We see this in great speakers, artists and athletes.
Hendrie Weisinger and JP Pawliw-Fry give us some suggestions for planning our own:
- make it short
- Run it immediately before the situation.
- Include a mental component (review important points, anticipate problems we may face).
- Include a physical component (exercises, breathing, etc).
- Visualize ourselves succeeding.
- End with a key word or phrase to know we’re ready.
Also read: How to achieve your goals, plan and achieve your goals in 100 days.
4. Listen to music.
Pressure goes hand in hand with anxiety, we get upset and don’t think things through clearly. Our best ally here is music, since it has the power to make anxiety less palpable and at the same time calm us down.
In addition, listening to music is one of the concentration techniques to study that will allow you to achieve more results in less time.
5. Take your time.
When we feel under pressure our natural reaction is to speed up and it is precisely what we should not do; since the only thing we get is to think about the final result we want and not about the key information to succeed in a complicated situation. So let’s breathe and plan, so we can think more flexible, creative and attentive.
6. Share the pressure.
Weisinger and Pawliw-Fry say that talking to someone about our problems helps reduce anxiety. In the same way, by doing so we can evaluate them in a more real context and at the same time receive feedback.
And remember, if you are really interested in creating your own business, you can purchase our book “How to create a company while working: Discover how to manage your time, manage your money and motivate yourself while creating a company and working for another” , where you will find all the information you need to found your own company, without having to leave your job.
