Why Some Leaders Crumble Under Pressure – and How You Can Rise Instead
It’s fascinating to watch a show like Australian Idol – or substitute a similar program that’s shown in your country – when it gets to the pointy end.
The remaining twenty or so contestants get a makeover and are put in front of a big audience for the first time, complete with live band, lights, the works.
Talk about pressure. Some of these kids have never performed for a crowd before, let alone on live television with a trio of judges assessing their every move.
What happens next can be remarkable.
Singers who were loud and confident in the early rounds seem to shrink into the backdrop or crumble under their nerves.
Others – often the ones you barely noticed before –dig deep within themselves and extract a new level of stunning talent. They transform right there in front of us.
What makes the difference? They’re all super-talented. Why are some defeated in the spotlight while others use that pivotal moment as a springboard to higher success?
There are parallels to how leaders perform when they communicate under pressure – perhaps in a media interview, at an intense board meeting or under community scrutiny.
Some rise to the challenge while others make things a whole lot worse.
For our young reality TV entertainers, in my view the difference between success and tanking comes down to three elements. The ones who thrive in the spotlight:
Connect strongly with their audience and feed off their energy rather than being afraid of it.
Have honed their content (song) to the point that they now embody it rather than having to remember it. That allows them to be natural in the moment and let their expertise flow.
Take steps to manager their inner state so their nerves don’t wreck the delivery. Perhaps they practise positive self-talk or meditate before they go on stage – it’s impossible to know, but they exude a calmness that builds audience trust.
What can you take from this for your own high-stakes communication?
Your environment might be a long way from a big stage and TV lights, but the principles are the same.
Make it about your audience first.
Get clear on your main message rather than trying to memorise facts.
Practice calmness, using whatever method works for you.
Build on those steps and you’ll stand out – for the right reasons – under pressure.
