Performing Your Best Under Pressure

When I think of pressure, I often recall a client of mine, a CEO who, at first glance, seemed to have it all. His office was located on the 32nd floor of a sleek Manhattan skyscraper, he drove a luxurious white Tesla, and his life was as grand as you could imagine. But despite all of this, I witnessed moments where he was incredibly frustrated and angry at himself.

I remember one particular evening when I walked into his quiet office for our regular executive VIP coaching session. As I sat down, I saw the anguish on his face. He looked up at me and said, “Bill, I think they will fire me.” He went on, “I’ve worked tirelessly, but I haven’t met the company’s targets. I’ve disappointed the stakeholders, and tomorrow the world will see me as a failed CEO.”

As he spoke, I couldn’t help but notice his lavish office — everything anyone could ever dream of. He had everything, and yet he felt like a failure. In that moment, he opened his desk drawer, took out two bottles of prescribed medication, swallowed a couple of pills, and took a deep breath.

We continued with the session, which lasted for nearly five hours. The next day, I was shocked to hear that the CEO had suffered a cardiac arrest and was hospitalized. He was only 49. The news flooded social media and newspapers, and every report attributed his condition to stress.

What Is Truly Behind Stress?

Stress — something we all deal with in our personal and professional lives. In the corporate world, it’s almost a given, right? Who doesn’t feel the pressure at work? But is work truly the cause of stress? Is it the job, the promotion, the responsibility that brings on the pressure? Or could it be something deeper?

Consider those who have lost their jobs. Ask them about stress, and they’ll tell you it’s not about the work itself but the fear of being without it. So, if work isn’t the root cause of stress, what is?

As I often say, "Stress is not caused by our work; stress is caused by our inability to manage our inner leader."

Successful people, especially top-level leaders and athletes, understand this dynamic. They thrive under pressure because they know how to control it. In fact, they create the right amount of pressure to push them forward without letting it overwhelm them.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Success is all about pressure—the right amount of pressure. Too little pressure leaves us complacent and underperforming. Too much pressure causes negative thinking, procrastination, and poor decision-making. But the right balance of pressure is what drives success.

Leaders are made not by how they start, but by how they show up and finish under pressure. If you want to stand out from the crowd, learn to manage the pressure in a way that works for you. The difference between success and failure often comes down to how we handle stress.

Until then, remember: Pressure is not your enemy. It’s the force that propels you to greatness.

Your Good Friend and Mentor

Payal Nanjiani