Performing under pressure comes from
preparation, mental focus and fearlessness.
Clutch is a word often connected with sports.
We think of the elite athlete who always comes through when the lights are the
brightest and the game is on the line. However, producing when the moment most
demands isn't exclusive to the world of athletics. Nailing the big sales pitch,
pulling off the impossible deadline or anticipating a client’s needs before
they do also can fall in the category of clutch. How is it that when the time
calls for excellence some wilt under the pressure, while others step their game
up? Here are five ways to go from average to world-class clutch:
1. Practice like you play.
Repetition through practice breeds
familiarity. The more accustomed you are with any given situation, the less
your nerves will be a factor. When you've been there and done that dozens or
even hundreds of times, this naturally increases the level of confidence you
have to complete the task at hand. The one critical mistake most people make
when they prepare is that they go through the motions instead of practicing at
real life "game speed." In other words, when they get to the actual
situation, it feels different. The familiarity they attempted to lock-in with
practice was partially wasted. To be truly clutch, you need to make your
rehearsal as close to the real deal, at full speed. As an example, if you've
got an important speech coming up, go run through the speech in the board room
or stage where you’ll actually be presenting later.
2. Stick to your routine.
When you're clutch and in a big moment, it
often doesn't often feel like one. The "moment" feels like any other
one of the countless times you've been successful because you've executed time
and time again. It's also critical to be in the right frame of mind leading up
to the moment. In the hours, minutes or seconds beforehand, get yourself in a
familiar rhythm. It could be wearing an outfit that you feel comfortable and confident
in, visualizing success in your mind or even listening to the same song that
gets you in the right mindset.
3. Appreciate the moment.
Clutch means that you embrace the big moment
and the time leading up to it. Contrast that with someone who can't wait for
the moment to pass or thinks to himself, "If I can just get past
this." Remember, the moment is what you've worked hard to achieve. This is
why you've put in the work -- to get this opportunity.
4. Slow things down.
When in the midst of a tremendous opportunity
that calls for a clutch performance, it's all too easy to chase too many mental
targets at once. Distractions creep into the picture. Clutch moments demand
total focus and concentration. They don't require more thoughts processed
quicker; they require fewer distractions, or a simplification of the process.
One way to help keep your thoughts simplified
is to consciously direct them toward the positive and to drill down to the bare
bones. When we get overly ambitious with our mental pursuits, allowing our
thoughts to flow from one topic to another, it can be draining and take us off
target. Slow things down by thinking only of the task at hand and the basics it
will require.
5. Don't be afraid to fail.
The fact is, no one can come through in the
critical moment 100 percent of the time. Look closely at the statistics of any
ice-water-in-their-veins athlete and you'll find a time where they lost a
round, big game or struck out with the bases loaded. Nobody is perfect, and the
pursuit of the unobtainable imposes a pressure that will surely cause more
misses than hits. Allow yourself to get past failures -- learn, move on and
enjoy the wins.
The media and fans will sometimes describe an
athlete as possessing a "clutch gene" after delivering in a key
moment. For just about any performer, particularly in sports, this might be one
of the ultimate compliments. Performing under pressure, however, doesn't come
from hitting the genetic lottery; it comes from the right amount of
preparation, mental focus and fearlessness.
Written by: Marty Fukuda
Credit: Entrepreneur.com
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