Can You Actually Perform Under Pressure?

For those in advertising or design what I am about to narrate will sound very familiar. The deadline looms large and the idea is still a distant dream. The client servicing person is tearing his hair out, the client calls frequently to ask about progress and the creative guys grumble about why the client has to always wake up late. Working through long hours and exhausting schedules, they make it! Not once, not twice but repeatedly.

Now shift focus to this person, someone we will call Nandoo. We have known him from school days actually – he always studied last minute for his exams but still managed to do quite well. He is good at his job but leaves everything for the last minute. And, he gets it done. Not once, not twice but repeatedly!

In advertising, design, journalism and other professions there is a belief that people work better under pressure. Then there is Nandoo. He also seems to work better under pressure.

Is there some merit in this argument or is it one of those myths that perpetuate a system or someone’s habit of procrastinating?

Pressure = Stress

We know how continued pressure, physically or mentally is one of the prime reasons behind stress. So if a system seems designed to keep things at a boil all the time can it really lead to better performance? You are probably personally acquainted with someone’s story of wilting under pressure. And then of course there is Burnout – is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress.

 Stress = Better Performance

According to a recent paper released in Science Direct stress improves ‘prospective memory’ defined as “the planning, retention, and realization of intentions”. In the experiment conducted, it was found that those who had been subjected to stress prior to the task, were better at the ‘performance’ stage of the task than those who were not subjected to stress.

So what it does prove is that a certain amount of stress may actually be good for you. It helps to keep you alert, competitive, focused and provides motivation. However, when it becomes excessive and prolonged, it is usually harmful and often creeps up without the affected person realising it.

In today’s world, pressure is a given. Unless you are a Nandoo, you need to find your ways to destress frequently and seek help when you feel the need. Some exercise, good friends, a hearty laugh, love…whatever it takes.

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another”. William James