FREE SAMPLE OF^ SUCCESS UNDER STRESS^1159‘I’ll try harder.’ You feel a constant low level of panic and guilt. Fac-
ing a tidal wave of tasks, the executive becomes increasingly hurried,
curt, peremptory and unfocused, while pretending that everything is
fine.... You’ve become so used to being in this state of frenzy that
you may not recognize that your coping mechanisms aren’t work-
ing.”^1 If you’ve had any moments recently where the onslaught of de-
mands became so great that you thought to yourself, “Stop the train,
I want to get off,” now you know why.
Does this cycle remind you of how you respond to stressful situ-
ations? Judging from the number of times I’ve presented the idea of
the survival cycle to businesspeople and heard back, “It’s like you are
in my head,” it’s certainly the pattern that characterizes many of those
with whom you work and live.
Let’s return to your 4 scenario with the boss. This time you
will see the possibility you have to create Success Under Stress. Notice
that in this scenario, little time is wasted. The emotional churn barely
exists. And, the presentation you draft has more impact on your fu-
ture and your team’s.
In your boss’ office, you start by taking a deep breath so you can
actually listen closely to her request. You have the presence of mind
to ask a few questions to help clarify her needs. You think through a
few ways of drafting the presentation and ask your boss if she agrees
with you: “It might be better to give a brief overview of the project,”
you say, “but then focus on the strategic value and bottom line rec-
ommendations to improve it going forward. Do you agree?” Yes, she
agrees. As you walk back to your office, this clarity enables you to
begin forming a mental outline of the presentation.
Back at your desk, you use a one-to-three minute mental reset
technique so you can be in the right frame of mind to think clearly
and creatively (Chapter 4). You forgive your boss for giving you the
assignment at the last minute, and you realize she asked you because
she has confidence in you (Chapter 9). You experience a few seconds
of nervousness at the thought of presenting in front of the companyM
American Management Association / http://www.amanet.org