A perspective shaped by elite sport, executive leadership, and organisational transformation.
Leading When the Heat Is On
I’ve come to believe that how a leader shows up under pressure is more defining than any strategy, vision statement, or set of goals.
Pressure isn’t rare. It’s the backdrop for most leadership moments that matter. It shows up when expectations are high, and time is short. When the team is stretched. When decisions carry weight. It shows up in moments of silence — when others look to you and wait.
It’s in these moments that leadership either deepens… or unravels.
What Pressure Reveals
Pressure doesn’t create weaknesses — it reveals them. Under stress, we fall back on what’s most ingrained: our habits, our beliefs, our inner voice. Some leaders become reactive. Others retreat. A few rise — not through force, but through steadiness.
I’ve seen leaders crumble under pressure, not because they lacked competence, but because they didn’t trust themselves. I’ve also seen quieter leaders surprise everyone — because when things got hard, they didn’t speed up, they slowed down. They asked better questions. They made space for others to think. They held the room instead of filling it.
That’s not instinct. It’s practice.
Pressure Needs Process
One thing I’ve learned — you don’t ‘wing it’ under pressure. You prepare for it. Not with scripts, but with frameworks that help you stay present, not just perform.
The model I often work from is simple, but powerful:
- Signals – What’s the pressure showing me? What are the unspoken cues in the room?
- Patterns – Is this part of something I’ve seen before — a repeat dynamic or familiar trigger?
- Interpretation – What meaning am I making here? Am I reacting to the moment or responding to the whole?
- Response – What’s the most respectful move I can make — for others and for myself?
- Alignment – If I act from here, will it reflect who we are, and what we stand for?
This isn’t a checklist. It’s a way of staying human in tough moments.
Leading When Eyes Are On You
One of the toughest things about pressure is visibility. People are watching. Often silently. How you act under pressure tells others what’s acceptable. If you lose it, they take permission to do the same. If you hold your centre, they feel safer. They’re more likely to speak up, to stay engaged to risk honesty.
But it doesn’t mean leaders can’t feel pressure. You’re allowed to wobble — just not to collapse into reactivity. Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s how we stay real. The key is not to confuse presence with performance.
Pressure Can Be a Teacher
The leaders I’ve learned the most from weren’t always calm — but they were conscious. They could name what they were experiencing without unloading it. They used pressure as a prompt, not a weapon.
Next time you’re in a high-stakes moment, try asking yourself:
- What’s really being asked of me here — beneath the surface?
- What might others be feeling but not saying?
- How can I show up in a way that strengthens trust, not just solves the problem?
Final Thought
Leadership under pressure isn’t about being the loudest, the fastest, or the smartest. It’s about being able to hold space when others can’t. To move from reaction to reflection. To act without leaving people behind.
That’s what I try to remember when the heat is on. And every time I do, I lead just a little better than before.
