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[VIDEO] High Performance Under Pressure: Understanding Risk vs. Consequence

May 26, 2021 in

What’s the difference between Risk and Consequence?

Have you ever choked under pressure, despite preparation and solid skills? It could be you have mentally over-amplified the risks or consequences associated with your performance. Understanding the difference between risk and consequence, and how to accurately gauge both, is crucial for high performance.

Beyond your ability to stay present and focused on the task at hand, performing under pressure often comes down to understanding the difference between risk and consequence. Many people like to play up the consequences of a work product, saying, “this is life or death,” or “we’re in a war with our competitors.” This is a misguided effort to generate motivation that can have dire effects on how we perform. Even if the consequence is significant, focusing on that does not help us perform. Risk, on the other hand, involves the likelihood of failing or screwing up. When we have prepared and worked hard on our craft, the risk of failing is likely going to be a lot lower than the percieved (or real) consequences. Recognizing that the risk of failing is low (even though the consequence is high) can reduce the pressure you’re feeling, help you build confidence, and stay focused on the task at hand.

Watch the 4-min video for more of Dr. Eric Bean’s tips for what to do when faced with a high-pressure situation.

Learn more about High-Performance Training

Organizations often limit their potential by only focusing on technical skills and overlooking the tremendous value in training the mental and emotional competencies that support high performance. When leaders are asked to describe their most high performing individuals, they usually skip job-related technical skills and, instead, highlight characteristics such as team player, gritty, fiercely determined to solve problems, great communicator, flexible, adaptable, focused, resilient, optimistic, trustworthy, and emotionally intelligent. Learn more about our Resilient and Adaptable Leader training and schedule a consultation with our team today.

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Video editing and graphics by Rachel Bryars