5 Tips for Succeeding at Working Even When Under Pressure
Executives are held to a higher standard than everyone else in the company: they must make big (and sometimes difficult) decisions, they must manage company operations well, understand how to support and motivate their team, and keep a cool face even under pressure.
And yet, we’re all human! Sometimes exuding Executive Presence requires focused effort and attention before you’re truly able to live up to executive standards. Today, let’s take a look at five important things that will factor into handling pressure in an effortless manner.
Remain Calm
It’s important to fully understand that no matter what happens, you must have a calm demeanor to keep your executive presence. No matter what. You set the standard for the entire team, so if you can’t keep your cool, you’re unconsciously telling everyone else that they have permission to behave poorly, too.
When the leader in the office flies off the handle, it upsets everyone. When you receive unwelcome or even devastating news, it’s okay to take a few minutes to yourself. Breathe deeply and separate yourself from the issue so you can manage your emotions.
When you demonstrate calmness (or even better, when you actually feel calm), your ability to handle complicated and high-pressure situations skyrockets. People will respect you more. And generally, when the leader stays calm, it will comfort and steady the other members of the team – even if the situation looks dire.
Take Your Breaks
If you’re allowed breaks during the day you must take them. Walk away from the matters of the office for a few minutes by taking a brisk walk outside, if you can. Get away from your desk. Drink a glass of water and find a space where you can be alone for a few minutes. Some of my clients like to shut their office door, close their eyes and meditate for 5-10 minutes.
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Whatever you do, don’t pick up your phone during your breaks unless you need to call a loved one. Social media and email will be there at the end of the day – but your breaks are meant to give you a chance to rejuvenate yourself so you can return to work with a fresh mind.
Learn How to Say No
At work, we often take on way too much because we think we can do it all. We want to be the person who is invaluable in the office!
But at a certain point, taking on too much can be a deterrent. You don’t want to position yourself as the guy or gal in the office who will volunteer for anything because you will likely find others trying to dump things on you before too long. This is not to mention that when you take on too much, you’ll become frazzled and stretched too thin to really accomplish your tasks well.
Find Someone to Talk To
This can be tricky: find someone in the office you can talk to openly but who won’t repeat what you tell them! One of my clients thought she had a confidant at work, another woman who seemed more than open to chatting about what was going on in the office.
Of course, they weren’t gossiping – my client was simply sharing her situation and looking for advice. She was furious when her annual review came up and the boss chided her because her “confidant” had spilled the beans.Find someone you can talk to at the office… but make sure they really are trustworthy.
Use Your Vacation Time
Do you know how many people don’t take their vacations because they feel there is too much to do around the office? Or, if they do go on vacation, they insist on working the whole time?
We’re human. We’re not robots who can power through work day in and day out – we need to shut down from time to time. Choose a vacation where you can totally slow down, and if you can, coordinate that with the least busy times of year (typically, those times are around the holidays and during the months of July and August).
When you’re diligent about taking your vacations, you’ll be much more refreshed when you do return to work. This translates to feeling calmer when stressful situations arise in the office!
The more you can keep your cool and still perform well under pressure, the more respect your coworkers and higher-ups will have for you at work. If you’d like any assistance cultivating your Executive Presence, let’s talk!
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