Knowing how to stay calm under pressure is critical to surviving these turbulent times. Responding thoughtfully rather than emotionally will help you create a more intentional outcome.

In the volatile world we live in, it’s hard to remain calm under pressure. But it’s a required trait of great leaders. And that’s what we discuss in this week’s episode of Reflect Forward – how to stay calm under pressure.

Staying calm under pressure is key to surviving these turbulent times. Responding thoughtfully rather than emotionally will help you create a more intentional outcome. Intentional outcomes can lead to lower stress, better relationships, and higher productivity. In short, staying cool, calm, and collected when you want to freak out will improve the overall quality of your life.

Wikipedia defines calmness as “the mental state of peace of mind is free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance. It also refers to being in a state of serenity, tranquility, or peace.” Doesn’t this sound wonderful? Even better, when you make high stake decisions or respond to a high-stress situation from a state of calmness, the quality of the outcome tends to be better. Who doesn’t want that?

Remaining calm under pressure as a leader means maintaining composure and staying level-headed during stressful or high-pressure situations. It involves staying focused on the task at hand, making clear and rational decisions, and communicating effectively with team members.

Leaders who remain calm under pressure can inspire confidence in their team members and maintain a sense of stability even in the face of uncertainty. They can think critically and objectively and are less likely to make impulsive or emotional decisions that could have negative consequences.

To remain calm under pressure, leaders must cultivate emotional intelligence, practice mindfulness and self-reflection, and develop effective coping strategies for managing stress. They may also need to develop contingency plans and anticipate potential challenges to be better prepared to handle unexpected situations.

During the episode, I share the five things I do to stay cool, calm, and collected in the face of pressure, inducing staying present, asking questions, avoiding spiraling, changing negative language to positive language, and giving myself time to cool down.

Question of the Week

This week’s question comes from another Colorado CEO who asked me, “What’s the best icebreaker you use in team meetings? I am tired of using the same ones!”

I love this question. I use icebreakers all the time and recently asked this one, “What’s the worst job you’ve had?” The responses are priceless and insightful.

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