Book Review: To The Next Level

Is it true that a person’s true grit can be known based on how he reacts under pressure? Why do some succumb under pressure and for some, the same situation brings out their best? These are some questions which renowned psychologist Hendrie Weisinger and leadership and performance expert J.P. Pawlin-Fry, seek to answer in their latest book, How To Perform Under Pressure: The Science of Doing Your Best When it Matters Most.

We have often observed that teenagers or adolescents take risks (read: dare devilry) out of peer pressure. Some succumb to peer pressure, some stay away, and thus grow to be a better person by overcoming the sense of blindly following what others do.

Sure, growing up does expose young adults and those in their first jobs to different types of pressures, which again is handled differently by different people.

Essentially, it matters how one handles pressure. This means pressure management is also an important part of every executive’s professional success.

The authors write that the journey up the ladder of success is also dependant on how one handles the pressure.

The authors, who have spent over 20 years researching the relation between pressure and success, also point out that there are behavioural aspects of people that show if they can handle pressure. A certain aura of calmness, eye contact and lack of awkwardness irrespective of the situation, whether one is under pressure or not, can be seen in many successful people.

The book tries to give an in-depth scientific account of how pressure is handled by successful people, and what options they have in such situations. The authors also offer solutions for handling pressure successfully and in much better ways.

Recently we witnessed how Indian sportspersons performed under immense pressure despite the lack of facilities to some and won medals at the Rio Olympics.

Be it in the boardroom or a game arena, Weisnger and Pawlin-Fry emphasise that one needs to be level headed and handle pressure in order to reach the next level.