Leaders sometimes must act while under pressure. When there is a high-stakes situation, understanding your natural response will provide insight regarding your strengths and shortcomings and allow you to make better decisions.
Harvard Business Review offers the following tips to help you improve how you react under pressure.
- Expand your range. Once you understand your default response to high-pressure situations, work on practicing alternatives. For example, if you typically rush into action, make yourself slow down and assess. You will have more control when you have more response options.
- Adjust in real time. Situations can evolve quickly, so it is important you are able to adapt and change your approach. Ask yourself whether you and your team are making progress.
- Use different strengths intentionally. Some situations may require calm to steady your team, and others may need quick decisions or creative thinking. Learn which strengths help you in different situations so you can respond accordingly.
- Share the load. You do not need to carry every decision yourself. Be sure to create clear processes, rely on trusted people and build support systems before high-pressure situations hit.
