“Courage? Grace under pressure.” – Ernest Hemingway
In the Kickass Koach podcast episode dropped Monday, I acknowledge the spark for this theme comes from sports. In hearing an announcer speak to how, even, a well regarded veteran feels the pressure of performing on a new team. Their journey to excellence has parallels to career performance.
For the newsletter, I share the story of a client who initially resisted a process for navigating her own performance opportunities only to recently realize how fortunate she was to have developed one over the years. It was available to support her when she needed it most.
In the weekly Instagram and LinkedIn video, I reflect on how I failed to combine all three elements required to perform well under pressure, as outlined below, a big opportunity I had in my 30’s. While I was effective in role with two out of three, I realize the greater impact I could have had with all three humming.
Finally, in this post I examine the cost of failing to accept the challenge to perform when it counts and dig more deeply into the three components that drive consistent performance under pressure.
The Cost of Performing Under Pressure
The Price Paid
Consistent performance is grueling. Below I speak through the eye of a fan in my appreciation for a special athlete who performed when it counted most. A professional athlete is surrounded with support systems that help. Still they don’t all rise to the big occasions. It seems to me, whether in their workout or game preparation approach, they benefit from building a system or a process to follow. Just as, my Opera singer brother-in-law has a performance day meal routine.
The price we must pay to be a top performer is realized through the effort. Effort that frames the experience of what will work in preparation to deliver when it matters. When the effort is put here first, the rest is made much easier. Moreover, it is systematized.
The biggest price we pay for performance is the release of our free will. In the newsletter I speak about how our will-power is not reliable anyway. We just feel less authentic and laissez faire. A few of my clients when working on a performance process have said they feel more contrived. One client told me he felt manipulative. I say, “get over it”. Performance under pressure is worth giving up the need to feel real. Perhaps the kind of “real” is just a reflection of poor habits and weak thinking skills. In fact, the flow you’ll ultimately gain will make the sacrifice worthwhile.
The Glory Days
Three Elements of Performing when it Counts
Clarity of purpose, vision and approach.
Clarity in any situation feels really great. When we experience it, we feel free to move unimpeded. In many ways it clears the way. Clarity is only available though when we have done the hard work of both mental and physical preparation. Clarity illuminates the path forward when we examine the desired outcome and accurately define where we currently reside. Our mental preparation expands when we see the potential barriers in the path. We can’t get out of our own way until we see this clearly.
Curiosity to learn and expand perspective.
Curiosity is energetic. That’s why it even beats listening. When we cultivate our curiosity we inquire and listen with a deep interest in the perspective of others. When our curiosity is genuine and fierce, it increases the passion and drive of everyone it touches. This energy becomes infectious. Furthermore, it fuels the journey.
Resilience in spirit and determination.
Resilience is a blend of passion and persistence. Passion can been generated through clarity and curiosity. Persistence is the element of resilience that is more difficult to engage. It is where we mistakenly think will-power is required. In fact, this is where the structure of the process will lead the way. When we get stuck in a problem or the path we chose is blocked, our process returns us to the clarity stage, fueled by curiosity. In fact persistence is best built on how we frame past performance. In other words, we will persist and return to building clarity and being curious when we remember how it has served us in the past.
Consistently Performing
Earlier I spoke about resilience as a skill we need to develop when looking backward. This may seem strange when seeking to reach a future and desired destination. We’ve all heard the expression, “failure to know our history, dooms us to repeat it.” The persistent component of resilience requires that we remember our past victories as a way of energizing us when we feel stuck in a present journey.
Consistent performance is more a mental game than a physical game. Much earlier in the post I mentioned that performance, especially under pressure, may start with the presence we instill and continue to generate in our life. Essentially, resilience is related to our presence. Hemingway’s quote highlighting the impact of grace actually points to this factor. Athletes often talk about the ability to play within themselves. In other words, not trying to do more than the moment requires.
Presence, whether being comfortable in our own skin, or the ability to generate power in the face of resistance, is a trait or a competency worth exploring. Additionally, it helps to remember that when delivering on a big outcome demands the support of others, a well calibrated presence is often the energy that ensure everyone pulls their weight. The strength is one of us impacts all of us.
Life is one big Experiment
The underlying point, again this week, emphasizes the benefit of approaching life as an experiment. Moreover, when we systematize our efforts we become free up our energy. Moreover, we may then more closely monitor how our choices, decisions and ability to adjust our actions to our current situation. Then, we may influence how things unfold.
There’s a difference between wanting something and making something happen. With the mindset necessary to perform under pressure we are able to influence results more deeply. This mindset that relies on clarity, curiosity and a resilient spirit we accept no excuses, only results. Furthermore, it’s essential we have a system to evaluate the risk of any action, removing the very human emotions that cloud our judgment.
Walk with me. Together let’s examine options consciously and authentically to make choices that move us strategically toward where we want to be. Strategy is a about choices. Execution on these choices requires masterful performance. Furthermore, a well developed process allows us to enjoy the journey far more fully.
Be part of the journey in 2020.
Start by subscribing to my mailing list . Subscribers receive:
- My interactive exercise to begin reducing the impacts of stress and feelings of overwhelm will be sent.
- My newsletter with the related podcast episode will be sent weekly.
- Special offers will be available to subscribers monthly including: a random offer of a complimentary one hour coaching conversation, access to roundtable engagements and group coaching on identity and related subjects, as well as information on an initiative on which I’m collaborating: #FeMasCon.
Probabilities offer choices – explore with Bank Your Impact (BYI)
We consistently fail to understand probabilities. Furthermore, this impacts us negatively. An inability to rationally process potential risk paralyzes us The BYI system helps participants identify options, make wise choices and commit to influencing desired outcomes. It takes a systematic and experiential approach to influence the outcomes we produce. Moreover, becoming aware of who we are being and how it produces the results in our life is a consequence of the choices we made and how we execute on those choices. Ultimately, creating the life we want starts with the actions we choose to take.
Furthermore, to get what we truly want in life, we need to be willing to persist, seek help, and continually look for transferable learning opportunities. Additionally, we need to be willing to question our choices and expand our options through healthy curiosity and a search for unique perspectives. Moreover, identifying and nurturing our identity is the place to start.
A healthy meaningful and full life is made possible with clarity about our values, beliefs, patterns and habits. Additionally, our quality of life is influenced and shaped by our unique blend of strengths and inclinations. Undoubtedly, a growth mindset and open-minded approach are foundations to sustaining this healthy sense of self.
The System
The Bank Your Impact (BYI) System is about both developing and embedding self-awareness. Furthermore, the benefits of expanded resilience, connections built on understanding the impact of belonging and an ability to bolster a professional and authentic presence are foundational. Perhaps more than the other two, developing a foundational resilience is critical to with standing that which moves us into burnout.
The current system incorporates 1:1 coaching, roundtable conversations; eventually I’ll add a neuro-social learning experience (currently only available in organizational contracts but will be added to the system for individual engagement in 2021).
My approach is based on the ICF (International Coaching Federation) standards. I’m meeting you (my clients) where you are, both as the coaching agreement begins, and in the moment that exists at the time of each conversation. Progress or growth is not a straight line. The ICA model is the framework for every conversation: Issue/Insight, Choice/Commitment, Action/Accountability. Over the past year I’ve been tightening the model to meet the needs of my clients.
Holding space to support my clients in:
- Developing meaningful insights
- Expanding/deepening perspective on those insights
- Building/designing a practice to try on new ways of being/seeing OR experiment for discovery
- Assessing progress, becoming agile in transfer of learning and application before developing additional insights
An organic experience
The experience is tailored around what you bring to each conversation, in my experience, there are common themes that arise including: self-awareness, mindfulness, mindset, communication, connections, and attitude. Self-awareness stands alone but is also a foundational theme. I have registered upwards of 40 sub-concepts that fit under each of these categories. Furthermore, I bring tools, skills and techniques to respond and guide our work together, informed by positive psychology, neuroscience, and management/leadership research.
Walk With Me, to Where You Want to Be
In all my blog posts in 2019, you will find this section outlines what brought me to this area of focus: supporting people in the early to middle part of their career as a #performance #coach.
You can read more about my work and my in the About Me section of the website and below is a recording of my #bigwhystory:
Feel like you’re living someone else’s destiny?
If that’s working for you, great. If it isn’t or it starts to be a problem, reach out. I welcome a conversation.
Willing to do the work to find more meaning?
With the skills to unpack the emotions and barriers and triggers and mindset challenges with the skills in my BYI system, participants begin to see the impact in their career and finally begin to discover what matters most to them. The bonus: they begin to see a path to get there. Join me…
My system is intended to be meaningful, relevant, accessible and affordable. With that in mind, there are many ways to engage with me. Below are TWO ways to start, without spending a dime.
Walk with Me!
- BOOK a complimentary exploratory 1:1 conversation 20-30 minutes.
- SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list. You’ll receive an interactive exercise that you may use to reduce and manage stress or feelings of overwhelm. PLUS each week you’ll receive my podcast and reflections in your inbox AND you’ll be invited to monthly webinars and roundtable conversations.
In closing, I love bringing learning experiences to workplaces that are interested in raising their performance and encouraging their people.
- Book me to speak at your conference or to a group in your organization. My workshops on building resilience, improving workplace outcomes through relationships, and increasing performance are big hits! In 2020 I’ve added a few workshops on gender engagement – how, by knocking off the boxes that limit us by gender we all find our capacity expands.