The Power of Pressure Book Summary - The Power of Pressure Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

The Power of Pressure summary

Dane Jensen

Why Pressure Isn’t the Problem, It’s the Solution

4.5 (258 ratings)
24 mins

Brief summary

The Power of Pressure by Dane Jensen is a business book that shows how to handle high-pressure situations and use them to thrive. The book provides actionable tips and practical advice on facing challenges and improving performance under stress.

Table of Contents

    The Power of Pressure
    Summary of 8 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 8

    Pressure comes from a blend of highly important and highly uncertain circumstances.

    “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.

    Want to see all full key ideas from The Power of Pressure?

    Key ideas in The Power of Pressure

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is The Power of Pressure about?

    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.

    The Power of Pressure Review

    The Power of Pressure (2022) by Dane Jensen - A book that explores the impact of pressure and how it can be harnessed for success. Here's why you should read it:

    • Offers practical insights and strategies to help individuals thrive under pressure, empowering readers to excel in challenging situations.
    • Combines real-life anecdotes and case studies with research findings, providing a comprehensive understanding of the power and potential of pressure.
    • Captivates through its compelling storytelling and thought-provoking analysis, ensuring that readers are engaged and entertained throughout.

    Who should read The Power of Pressure?

    • Workers feeling overwhelmed by the daily grind
    • Productivity hackers looking to boost performance under pressure
    • Anyone who has ever been stressed out

    About the Author

    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.

    Categories with The Power of Pressure

    Book summaries like The Power of Pressure

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    36 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Get started

    The Power of Pressure FAQs 

    What is the main message of The Power of Pressure?

    The main message of The Power of Pressure is that pressure can be harnessed as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.

    How long does it take to read The Power of Pressure?

    The reading time for The Power of Pressure varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is The Power of Pressure a good book? Is it worth reading?

    The Power of Pressure is a valuable read for anyone looking to understand the power of pressure and how to use it to their advantage.

    Who is the author of The Power of Pressure?

    The author of The Power of Pressure is Dane Jensen.

    What to read after The Power of Pressure?

    If you're wondering what to read next after The Power of Pressure, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Performing Under Pressure by Hendrie Weisinger & J.P. Pawliw-Fry
    • Atomic Habits by James Clear
    • The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb
    • I Know What to Do So Why Don't I Do It? by Nick Hall
    • Alchemy by Rory Sutherland
    • How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci by Michael J. Gelb
    • The First Minute by Chris Fenning
    • Help Me, I Have No Discipline and Zero Self-Control by Vaughn Carter
    • #POSITIVITY by Phil Hellmuth Jr.
    • Little Treatments, Big Effects by Jessica Schleider