How to cope with pressure when things go BOOM 

The human species is developed to cope. We have survived millions of years of catastrophic events. We have even survived when other species of hominids didn’t. We are resilient, and we are copers. But what does coping really take, as a leader, when things go BOOM? 

Firstly, coping is not about being resilient. During the BOOM event, you are not practicing resilience, you are practicing the skill of ‘getting through it’. Dealing with it. Grieving through it. Managing it. Being resilient (see my earlier post on how to build this skill) will set you up with the skills of being able to cope more competently with a BOOM event, but in the moment, it will help to rethink the way that you think about the pressure and the stress of the event. Here are some tips: 

1. Rethink pressure 

In her 2013 TED Talk, Kelly McGonigal shared some interesting research on the stress response. Kelly shared that it is not the stress itself, but how we think about the stress that matters. I know right, confusing. In short, if you think the stress and pressure, you are feeling are a positive, and that will help you be your best right now, because you will be more focused and alert … that is a good thing. If you have a negative association with the pressure, you are likely to struggle to cope in the moment, and in the long term. 

Rethink pressure by looking at it through a positive lens. Know that as a species, humans are designed to experience pressure. Pressure keeps us sharp, it heightens our senses, and produces cortisol and adrenalin, so that we are ready to act (yes, fight or flight). Or focus! On the task at hand. We don’t have to worry about sabre tooth tigers in 2022, so the pressure can be thought of as supporting us, rather than sabotaging us.  

Rethink pressure to use it to your advantage. And rethink the pressure of the situation, so that you can cope, and get through it more quickly. 

2. Restate purpose  

When you are in a tough situation that you are trying to cope through, reconnect to purpose. And restate why you are doing what you are doing. And why the current situation is worth the struggle.  

Restating your purpose helps you connect with it. Remember that if you are leading a team through a crisis, it is important to help them to know that there is a bigger picture, and that their struggles are being directed towards an outcome that will be worth the effort. Your purpose might be just to survive the BOOM event, or it might be to build the most successful business in your space, or it might be to choose to take the chances that lead to change and growth.  

When you restate your purpose, you start to get a sense of it all being worthwhile, and your emotional brain starts to relax and it starts to understand that the thinking brain is in charge, and when reasoning is in charge, most BOOM events are manageable.  

And remember, on the other side of a BOOM event will be a reflection period of what you did well, and what you could do better next time. There will be some learning! 

3. Reject FEAR 

That is a big call, right – reject fear! The challenge is that BOOM events create fear. Fear of what is going wrong right now, and the fear of the future. Think of COVID for a moment, the biggest fear that people had was what their future held. How would they earn a living? When will it ever end? 

If you have followed any of my work, you will know that I work with leaders to help them create conscious control. Part of that process is about being courageous. And having the courage to step outside of your comfort zone (which you will be during a BOOM event) and have the courage to try things that might not work. To tell your team how you are feeling and what is happening. And to trust yourself and your team to get through this BOOM event. 

Rejecting fear takes courage.  

Leadership under pressure is about control, care factor, and courage. Dealing with BOOM events is more about the courage piece. 

Want to learn more about how to cope through BOOM events? 

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About Anton

Anton has dedicated his working life to helping leaders to upgrade their mindset, upskill their leadership, and uplift their teams! With a focus on helps leaders to better lead under pressure. Anton is an entrepreneur, speaker, consultant, bestselling author and founder of The Guinea Group. Over the past 19 years, Anton has worked with over 175+ global organisations, he has inspired workplace leadership, safety, and cultural change. He’s achieved this by combining his corporate expertise, education (Bachelor of HR and Psychology), and infectious energy levels.

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