Better Under Pressure

2

Realistic Optimism

An Awareness of Actual Circumstances

Most people manage their anxiety under duress by using various coping mechanisms that mask the risks involved in the actual circumstances they are confronting. They ignore critical facts while relying on a belief that things will work out. Or they focus too closely on the wrong things—propping up a sapling when the whole forest is burning. But to be effective in today’s economy, leaders must remain acutely aware of the reality of the challenges they face so they can focus their efforts on actions most likely to yield results. They must recognize that because today’s economic world faces ...