Performing well in high-pressure situations

Choking under pressure often occurs because we focus too much on the details of what we’re doing, trying to control aspects that should be on autopilot, said Sian Beilock, an expert on the brain science behind choking under pressure.

We begin to worry, ruminating over and over again about the stressful event. One of the best things you can do when your mind begins this auto-loop of anxiety is walk away and come back later.

Sian Beilock

“Taking a break allows us to think about problems in an unconscious way and see all angles of the problem,” Beilock said. It’s also important to get enough sleep, since sleep is when our brains create connections and new ideas.

To perform better in high-stress situations, Beilock also recommends the following:

• Build a team around you with complementary people. Your team should comprise not just the smartest people, but people who are diverse and complement each other. Stepping back and talking to someone on your team can open up your ability to think creatively.
• Prepare for pressure in the right way. Know the material under the conditions in which you’ll perform. Go through it with an audience and get feedback, or videotape yourself.
• Change your mindset. After the situation, look at what happened in nonemotional terms. What’s one thing you can change moving forward?
• Step back and be in nature. Our attention wears down over time. Give yourself time to rest and replenish. If you can’t get outside, even looking out a window or at pictures of nature on the computer will help.

Look for more ideas in the article, “8 ways to live an inspired life,” in the 2019 January/February issue of Round the Table magazine. On MDRT’s website, from that issue you can read more articles to help you succeed.