Do This to Cultivate Peak Performance

As leaders, we all experience the stress of performing under pressure.

Dealing with competition, change, deadlines, conflict — it’s all just entry to the leadership ballpark.

Still, we’re expected to maintain high levels of performance regardless of the challenges thrown at us.

So, how can we do that? How can we consistently sustain peak performance, even under pressure?

The answer lies in six simple strategies that have been tried and tested:

1. Energy Management. This is all about recognizing whether you need to dial-up or dial down for a situation. If you need to activate up quickly to meet a deadline or give a presentation, consider engaging in rapid breathing, playing some upbeat music, and giving yourself some energizing verbal and image cues. For example, try the Wonder Woman stance for a few seconds, or clench your fists and release them as you say “explode!” On the other hand, if you need to activate down to reduce anxiety or stress, try deep belly breathing, meditation, and body scans that help slow the heart rate and send a signal to your brain that all is well in your world.

2. Thought Control. We all have that internal voice that questions our abilities. To escape its clutches, we have to (a) recognize that it’s just a voice, (b) stop the negative thoughts in their tracks by challenging whether they are true (hint, they rarely are), and (c) reframing the situation. For example, let’s say you just got reamed out by a boss or client, it’s easy to take it personally and agree with that voice that tells you you’re not good enough. But you can also reframe the situation by taking control of your thoughts. Ask yourself, “Isn’t it possible that this situation has nothing to do with my performance?” “Isn’t it true that this client yells at everyone?” You get the point. You have to challenge the negative thoughts and see the situation from another perspective.

3. Visualization. This is where the world of business can learn so much from the world of sports. All of the top players in any sport spend time mentally visualizing the shot they want to make or the race they want to run. In the same way, you can also take a few quiet moments to imagine yourself flawlessly fielding questions from investors or…