How self aware are you under pressure? Have you noticed that you change when time is tight or things do not go according to plan? Probably you have observed it in others. A manager who raises his voice at a colleague who makes a mistake when a deadline is approaching. People in the airport who surround an airline representative demanding to know why the flight has been delayed again.
Pressure is a fact of life if you live a life of self-improvement. You put pressure on yourself to reach targets, improve your skills and this pressure can sometimes have a negative impact on your performance.
I like to race in triathlon races, which are held in the summer when temperatures are extremely hot. One race in Hainan in South China took place in temperatures of over 35C. In this heat, I noticed that my cognitive abilities suffered. It became more challenging to do mental calculations on speed and distance. Being under pressure causes the same lapses. A team mate recently rode 7 laps instead of 6 laps in a race! How can you keep a clear head while the pressure and literally the heat is being turned up? By taking this third-party position, you are putting a gap between the emotions you are feeling and this will help you arrive at better decisions.
One important step to remaining calm is to become aware of the changes that happen when you are under pressure. In a way you need to become an observer of your own thoughts, emotions and actions. Are you feeling more irritable, more engaged, or more excited? Also, you can recognise the situation as it unfolds like a reporter. Ask yourself questions like, “What is happening now?”, “How do I feel about that?”, and “What am I going to do about that?”
While you often cannot change the pressure situation you are in, you can control your reactions to it. By observing yourself and then taking a third person position you can shift from reacting to guiding a path through the pressure situation.