When I think of pressure, I often recall a client of mine, a CEO who, at first glance, seemed to have it all. His office was located on the 32nd floor of a sleek Manhattan skyscraper, he drove a luxurious white Tesla, and his life was as grand as you could imagine. But despite all of this, I witnessed moments where he was incredibly frustrated and angry at himself.
I remember one particular evening when I walked into his quiet office for our regular executive VIP coaching session. As I sat down, I saw the anguish on his face. He looked up at me and said, “Bill, I think they will fire me.” He went on, “I’ve worked tirelessly, but I haven’t met the company’s targets. I’ve disappointed the stakeholders, and tomorrow the world will see me as a failed CEO.”
As he spoke, I couldn’t help but notice his lavish office — everything anyone could ever dream of. He had everything, and yet he felt like a failure. In that moment, he opened his desk drawer, took out two bottles of prescribed medication, swallowed a couple of pills, and took a deep breath.
We continued with the session, which lasted for nearly five hours. The next day, I was shocked to hear that the CEO had suffered a cardiac arrest and was hospitalized. He was only 49. The news flooded social media and newspapers, and every report attributed his condition to stress.
What Is Truly Behind Stress?
Stress — something we all deal with in our personal and professional lives. In the corporate world, it’s almost a given, right? Who doesn’t feel the pressure at work? But is work truly the cause of stress? Is it the job, the promotion, the responsibility that brings on the pressure? Or could it be something deeper?
Consider those who have lost their jobs. Ask them about stress, and they’ll tell you it’s not about the work itself but the fear of being without it. So, if work isn’t the root cause of stress, what is?
As I often say, "Stress is not caused by our work; stress is caused by our inability to manage our inner leader."
Understanding the Pressure That Drives Success
No matter what field you're in—whether you're an engineer, a doctor, an athlete, or a server—if you want to live a life free from unnecessary stress, you must embrace your leadership responsibility. Leading effectively, whether it’s managing a team, a business, or even your personal life, requires understanding how to manage pressure.
In my two decades of teaching leadership and success mastery, I've come to realize that success is all about managing pressure—the right kind of pressure.
Successful people, especially top-level leaders and athletes, understand this dynamic. They thrive under pressure because they know how to control it. In fact, they create the right amount of pressure to push them forward without letting it overwhelm them.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Success is all about pressure—the right amount of pressure. Too little pressure leaves us complacent and underperforming. Too much pressure causes negative thinking, procrastination, and poor decision-making. But the right balance of pressure is what drives success.
The Pressure that Propels Leadership
In today’s fast-paced business world, leaders must demonstrate poise and composure under pressure. The workplace is changing rapidly, and the demand for greater output is intensifying. Successful leaders are those who can maintain their balance while adapting to this shifting landscape.
Here’s the reality: when you feel too much pressure, it manifests as anxiety, fear of change, procrastination, and confusion. It can make you feel stuck, unable to think clearly or make sound decisions. On the flip side, too little pressure leads to complacency, lack of motivation, and missed opportunities.
True success happens when you find the sweet spot—the right amount of pressure. Leaders who can balance this well respond to challenges with clarity and focus, pushing forward without being weighed down by stress.
Adjusting Your Stress Levels: The Key to Success
The key to managing pressure is flexibility. You need to continually adjust your stress levels as your circumstances change. Ask yourself: Are you someone who can adjust your stress in response to changes in your environment, or do you tend to hold onto pressure regardless of the situation?
If you continue to build up pressure without releasing it, your productivity and effectiveness will slow down. You’ll feel like your goals are out of reach. But by adjusting your pressure, you can maintain momentum and move closer to your objectives.
Remember, your optimal level of pressure may be different from someone else’s. There’s no “one-size-fits-all.” As you become more self-aware of what works for you, you’ll learn to dial up or dial down the pressure accordingly. Once you master this, you will have stress under control. Now that’s real success.
How to Create the Right Amount of Pressure
So, how do you create the right pressure? How do you ensure that you’re not overloading yourself, yet still staying productive? Here are a few practical steps to help you get started:
Be Self-AwareYou need to know what triggers your stress levels. Recognize the situations or factors that make you feel pressured. If you don’t understand your triggers, you won’t be able to manage the pressure effectively.
Choose WiselyStress is a choice. How you respond to situations, deadlines, or even the behavior of others is entirely up to you. Too many people wear stress like a badge, thinking it shows how hard they work. But in reality, that stress only weighs them down.
Train Your MindJust like you train your body to handle physical challenges, train your mind to remain calm under pressure. Instead of focusing on frustration and anxiety, practice cultivating passion, calm, and clarity.
See Adversity as OpportunityInstead of reacting to stress with panic, try to approach challenges with composure. Step back, analyze the situation, and look for opportunities within the adversity. Leaders who see problems as opportunities are the ones who rise above the pressure.
Avoid OverthinkingOverthinking can be a vicious cycle. It paralyzes you, causing even small challenges to seem like insurmountable crises. Don’t let overthinking take over. Instead, learn to process challenges calmly and strategically.
Final Thoughts: Pressure is Your Ally
Remember, high-pressure moments aren’t something to fear. Instead, embrace them. Use pressure to propel yourself forward, become a better leader, and achieve your greatest potential. The key is to create the right balance—just enough pressure to push you towards success without overwhelming you.
Leaders are made not by how they start, but by how they show up and finish under pressure. If you want to stand out from the crowd, learn to manage the pressure in a way that works for you. The difference between success and failure often comes down to how we handle stress.
Until then, remember: Pressure is not your enemy. It’s the force that propels you to greatness.
Your Good Friend and Mentor
Payal Nanjiani
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