Grit (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series)

3

How to Deal with High-Pressure Situations at Work

By Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Many of the things we’re proud to achieve in life are the product not just of our talent and effort but also our ability to handle pressure. From studying for exams, to preparing for job interviews, to giving a big speech or presentation, it’s hard to conceive of any career-defining moments that aren’t peppered with pressure.

One of the oldest findings in modern psychology is that a moderate amount of pressure can actually boost performance.¹ This is why top athletes will generally perform better in competitions than in training, and why professional musicians will be more motivated if they’re in front of an audience than rehearsing at home. In general, the more skilled ...