In today’s world, it’s essential that you develop the skills needed to deal with high pressure work.
Several reasons such as impending deadlines, uncooperative and challenging team members and sheer workload may cause you to feel immense pressure and out of control of your work situation.
Since dealing with pressure to perform even under challenging conditions is an inevitable reality, it is therefore critical for you to develop this “muscle” for sustained success at the workplace as a leader.
In fact, this is why being able to perform well under pressure is a highly sought-after skill nowadays.
So how can you overcome the pressure that seems to build with impending deadlines or the like?
Here are 5 strategies to handle such pressure and demonstrate your ability to overcome pressure:
1. ALWAYS REMAIN CALM: This might be a hard thing for some people, especially new leaders. The good news is the more you practice this behavior, the better you will get. This allows your team to perceive you as having the ability to remain calm and accomplish tasks even in difficult situations.
2. FOCUS ON THE TASK TO BE DONE: The work environment might cause you to feel too much pressure but remember to focus only on what you are doing and what needs to be done at that time.
3. TAKE A BREAK IF NEEDED: When the pressure is overwhelming, take some time off to release some of the stress that you are bearing. Taking short-breaks allows you to regain energy and to be more productive. Keep track of what works for you and promptly reach out for your coping strategies.
4. ASK FOR HELP BY DELEGATING TASKS: An effective way of reducing the work pressure might be to delegate some of your tasks. In doing so, ensure you choose the right team members so they do the tasks well. So do not be shy to ask for help from your team members to minimize your pressure.
5. THINK OF PRESSURE AS A GOOD CHALLENGE: View work pressure as an opportunity to discover your inner strengths. Be comforted by what Robert McKee said, “True character is revealed in the choices humans make under pressure”. It’s vital you develop these skills to be a great leader.
Now, knowing that the pressure to perform at work might actually be a good thing for your growth as a leader and manager, what will you do differently in the coming days after this new perspective?
Comment below and let us know your thoughts and challenges.
Till next time, learn to perform well under pressure.