I am extremely proud & ecstatic today, as would be the rest of the 1.2 billion ‘Cricket Crazy’ Indians. The Indian Team has brought home the World Cup after a long wait of 28 years!
One of the highlights of the finals was the amazing Innings played by Mahendra Singh Dhoni [MSD]. It’s the best innings I have seen in a high stake chase. Not because of the quality of the stroke play but because of a particular quality that’s more important than those of his strokes – the quality of handling pressure.
The ability to produce results in sports or otherwise is largely dependent on one’s state of mind. A lot of professionals have skill. But being able to use your skill when the stakes are high is what makes a champion professional. We have witnessed teams crumbling under pressure on so many occasions in this World Cup. Like the semi finals, when Pakistan could not chase a paltry 260 against India. Lost the game not because their batsmen didn’t have the skill but because they didn’t have the temperament.
MSD, on the other hand, manages to keep his cool irrespective of what the situation is. Whether it is Joginder Sharma leaking runs in the last over of the T20 Final OR when he himself coming to bat in a crunch situation in this Final. He always seems calm & composed under pressure.
It’s practically impossible for us to imagine the kind of pressure the Captain of the Indian Cricket Team goes through. Having said that, all of us – as professionals, go through some pressure every day. How can we possibly get better at handling it?
- No one event makes or breaks a Professional – Life goes on. It’s not usually one presentation or meeting that decides your fate. It is the work done over a period of time that usually results in success or failure. So don’t think that everything depends on that one event.
- The worst case scenario is usually not as bad as we imagine – When under pressure, the natural tendency is to create scenarios in our heads where the consequences of our actions look really scary. We think of the worst and keep focusing on World-Ending Scenarios. Trust me: irrespective of the result, these scenarios are never as bad as you imagine.
- Prepare Prepare Prepare – Preparation leads to confidence. The more you prepare the better you will handle pressure. Remember, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.
- Put yourself in a good state of mind – Figure out what puts you in a good state of mind. Is it listening to music? Is it talking to your spouse/friend/colleague? Does going for a run/walk help? For me, it’s usually Music and talking to my wife.
- Don’t run away from Pressure situations – Put yourself in the spot. The only real way to learn to handle pressure is by putting yourself in pressure situations. Take more responsibility. Work where the stakes are high. Getting used to handling pressure is the best way of actually getting better at it.
The higher you go as a professional, the more pressure you will face. So do you choose to succumb to it or do you learn to deal with it and display your real skills to the world?
My suggestion: Get the better of pressure, before it gets the better of you!
Swapnil Kamat is one of India’s leading Training Consultants and heads Work Better India. Contact him at swapnil@workbetterindia.com. The Work lessons column is an initiative to help professionals Work Better.