Want to Improve Your Performance Under Pressure? Start With These 3 Simple Habits

While I won’t be mistaken for LeBron James or Michael Jordan , I do share the commonality of being a basketball player and performing under pressure. There’s a special type of mental strength needed to perform in high stake athletic competitions or presenting inside the boardroom. Practicing your speech at home and shooting free throws inside an empty gym is one thing. But once the audiences arrive and the rehearsals are a thing of the past–sweaty palms, a rapidly beating heart, and excessive mental chatter can, unfortunately, arrive throwing a wrench into your performance. Why do people shrink under pressure? When you see someone fall short of expectations under pressure, you may be inclined to think that they weren’t prepared enough. But, that’s missing a huge piece of the puzzle. A large percentage of high performers don’t perform well under pressure because their prefrontal cortex went into overdrive. Think of your prefrontal cortex as the commander-in-chief in terms of helping you focus on the specific task at hand. In a recent Harvard Business Review column, Barnard College president and cognitive scientist Sian Beilock explains that "During our normal every day practiced tasks–we’re not paying attention to all the little details of what we are doing. Our prefrontal cortex is largely on autopilot." However, in high stakes situations, it’s a much different portrait. Under these situations, Beilock states, "When the pressure is on, we often start focusing on the step-by-step details of our performance to try and ensure an optimal outcome and, as a result, we disrupt what would have otherwise been fluid and natural." To keep yourself from suffering cognitive overload, here are some simple foundational habits to implement. 1. Prioritize sleep. Whether it’s remembering plays for the hardwood or key facts for the upcoming presentation, your brain is […]

Click here to view full article