Why Pressure Isn’t the Problem, It’s the Solution
The Power of Pressure (2021) takes a deep dive into the world of pressure in all its forms, and how high performers deal with it. By noticing the patterns of both single, peak pressure moments and pressure over the long haul, it’ll provide you with a practical set of tools to start using pressure to your advantage.
Dane Jensen is the CEO of the consulting firm, Third Factor, where he also manages the leadership development programs in North America. Jensen also teaches in the executive MBA program at the Smith School of Business in Ontario and advises athletes and coaches in the Olympic and Paralympic organizations. This is his first book.
“What’s the most pressure you’ve ever been under?” This is a question the author, Dane Jensen, has posed to over 1,000 people. Answers have ranged from elite figure skating competitions to periods of job uncertainty. For one person, a final exam came to mind. For another, it was trying to swim back to shore after being swept out to sea.
But while all moments of pressure are unique, they’re also tied together by a few key commonalities. In fact, every high-pressure experience combines the three following factors: importance, uncertainty, and volume – meaning the number of tasks or amount of information to process.
Let’s take a closer look at how pressure works.
The key message here is: Pressure comes from a blend of highly important and highly uncertain circumstances.
Pressure is often lumped together with stress, but there’s one big distinction between the two – the need to do something.
Consider the following scenario: If you’re tensely watching your favorite basketball team’s playoff match, hoping they’ll score the winning points, that’s stress. No matter what you shout at the TV, you won’t impact the result. But if you’re playing in that game, that’s pressure. Your performance could mean the difference between winning and losing.
While not everyone is a basketball star, the stakes of any pressure situation can feel as high as a playoff match. It all depends on how important the outcome is to you. Perhaps the work you’re doing creates a lot of pressure. But while the project itself isn’t particularly important to you, some aspects are still important. Whether it’s holding down a job or not having others think of you as unqualified.
Uncertainty also plays a role in creating pressure, though not all uncertainty is bad. For example, when you’re watching a movie, not knowing what comes next adds to the suspense and excitement. But let’s say your company merges with another, and managers announce that half of the employees will be made redundant. The period of uncertainty to follow will likely create pressure. It’ll also add uncertainty to other aspects of your life.
Lastly, there’s a limit to what you can realistically focus on. If you’re juggling multiple responsibilities at home and at work – think raising a child while working full-time – this also creates pressure.
These three components come together to make acting under pressure that much more difficult.
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