Task Execution Under Pressure

“Positive thinking doesn’t help under pressure.” That’s not a hot take. It’s neuroscience. I’ve worked with elite performers at NASA, the Cleveland Clinic, the NBA, NFL, and special ops military units. And here’s what the best do differently when the stakes couldn’t be higher: They don’t try to suppress their emotions. Instead, they train for moments when emotions spike. Because trying to “calm down” under pressure often backfires. Your brain doesn’t want calm. It wants clarity, focus, and execution. So if you’re amped up before a big moment—good. But how do you channel that energy? I call it the E.A.S.E. Framework: 🧠 Emotion 👀 Attention 🧩 Strategy 🎯 Execution Train each layer like a skill. Make it second nature—so when the chaos hits, you’ve got something to grip onto. I saw this firsthand in an open-heart surgery when the patient flatlined. No panic. No scrambling. The team locked in and went straight to the checklist. They had a process. They trusted it. And they definitely didn’t have time to wait until they “felt good” before taking action. #PerformancePsychology #Neuroscience #Pressure

7 brutal lessons investment banking taught me about handling pressure. Cracking under pressure is normal. It’s human. But in investment banking, you don’t have that option. I’ve been in situations where: - Millions were on the line with zero room for error - One small mistake could cost a client everything - 100+ hour weeks were just part of the job In that kind of environment, you either adapt or get crushed. Here’s what I learned about handling pressure that applies to any business: 1. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 In IB, we stress-test everything: ✔ Best, base, worst-case? Modeled ✔ Interest rate spikes? Covered ✔ Cash running out? We saw it coming even before the CEO Be strategic! 2. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 You don’t have time to overanalyze when the market is moving. Make the best decision with the info you have—then adapt fast. 3. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐦 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐬 A deal can fall apart in seconds. The best performers stay clear-headed while everyone else panics. 4. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 Gut feelings don’t cut it when millions are at stake. The best decisions come from numbers, trends, and stress-tested models. 5. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬—𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 Deadlines in IB are brutal. Speed is key, but perfection is everything. In business? Move fast, but never at the cost of bad data or rushed execution. 6. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮—𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 In high-stakes deals, the right relationships open doors. The wrong ones? Cost you everything. Build real connections! 7. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 100-hour weeks, last-minute deal changes, high-stakes negotiations—only the resilient survive. Learn to take hits, adapt, and keep moving. Pressure isn’t the enemy—it’s a tool. If you learn to use it, you gain a massive edge over the competition. How do you handle pressure? — ♻️ Share it with your network! ➕ Follow Donny Mashiach for more relatable content.

Performing a discrete task under high pressure – should you go FAST or SLOW? One highly visible and measurable, self-paced time-interval for football PENALTY takers occurs right after the referee has given the signal for the shot to ensue. How long do you take after the whistle before you move towards the ball? Historically, between 1970 and around 2010, football penalty takers tended to take less than one second before they (literally) rushed towards the ball. Their hurry could possibly reflect an attempt to get the situation (and the unpleasant stress) over with quickly. Lately, and particularly in the past 4-5 years, experienced penalty takers have become more deliberate and composed, typically taking 2-5 seconds before they initiate their run-up. Is such time-taking linked to performance? We published a study in 2009, showing that players who take the shortest times score significantly fewer goals than those who pause and take just a moment or two longer. Even though players take longer now than in the past, more recent observations indicate the same pattern – the quickest players (on average) seem to perform somewhat worse than those who pause a moment before they go. I suspect this could be because SOME of the quick players (but not all) act based on their emotions, with no time for deliberate coping techniques. At the same time, some of the players who take a pause use that extra moment to make sure they are composed and focused on their task, and this could benefit their performance. Note however, these are observations about average effects, and there are no guarantees for success. These types of complex tasks require stress coping strategies that are adapted to each individual, and people have different preferences. Besides, plenty of examples show players taking a long pause, then missing their shots. And, you can wait too long, think too much and over-complicate, which is a well-known choking mechanism. With that said, with all the evidence I know at my disposal, and if I found myself in a situation with everything on the line, I personally would have: – taken a brief PAUSE – done one or two deep breaths – reminded myself about my performance strategy, to make sure I was properly focused on the right thing – THEN initiated my performance The published study: https://lnkd.in/ezx_jrD Many more details, examples, and applications in my book, that recently was released in a paperback version: https://lnkd.in/drb9jnFj

Every elite quarterback has a playbook. So why do so many high-achieving executives try to lead without one? When I was an executive in banking and global markets, I learned a hard truth: Leaders don’t wing it. They don’t let the chaos on the field dictate their next move. Looking back honestly, I found myself reacting instead of leading more often than not. And I know many of you reading this are doing the same: ▶︎ Hustling ▶︎ Putting out fires ▶︎ Hoping your instincts are enough While the stakes get higher and the pressure mounts every day. It can make you secretly feel like your confidence is hanging by a thread. On the outside, you're overcoming challenges every day. You're delivering in a high-pressure, high-stakes environment. But beneath the surface? ▶︎ It’s constant second-guessing. ▶︎ Decision fatigue. ▶︎ The fear that one wrong move will send everything spiraling. You might even tell yourself: “I should be able to handle this. I’ve always figured it out before.” But the higher you climb, the less forgiving the game becomes. Here’s what elite leaders do differently: 🔥 They rely on their playbook. Mine is simple, and it changes everything: ▶︎ Know the situation. (Context) Stop reacting. Step back and see the field as it is, not as what you fear it might be. ▶︎ Read the defense. (Assess) What’s actually happening vs. what’s just noise? Cut through the fantasies and what-if scenarios you're playing out in your head. ▶︎ Call the right play. (Strategize) Pick the move that aligns with your vision and your leadership's goals, not just what’s urgent right now. ▶︎ Execute under pressure. Trust your preparation and your instincts. Show up with conviction and confidence. This is how top performers lead with calmness, clarity, and impact, no matter how chaotic things become. What’s your go-to leadership play when the game is on the line? #StrategicExecution #LeadershipUnderPressure #DualImpactLeadership #CASEFramework

Ever felt your mind go completely blank right when it mattered the most? You’ve prepared, practiced, and yet—under pressure—you freeze. During a recent training session, a participant vulnerably shared: “In high-stakes moments—tight deadlines, crisis meetings—I just go numb. I forget what I had to say or do. And every failed attempt makes the next one harder.” Sounds familiar? Staying calm under pressure is not a natural skill—it’s a learned one. Here are 6 quick strategies I shared that can help break this cycle: ✅ Breathe before you act – Slow, deep breaths signal your brain to stay calm. ✅ Anchor yourself – A small gesture (like touching your thumb and index finger) can become a calming ritual. ✅ Practice with distractions – Train yourself in noisy or time-bound situations to build real-time focus. ✅ Reframe the situation – Instead of "I have to deliver", say "I get to express myself". ✅ Visualize success – Picture yourself handling the situation calmly and confidently. ✅ Be mindful, not mind full – Just being present in the moment can help cut out panic and past baggage. Remember: the goal is not to avoid pressure, but to build your muscle to stay composed within it. What helps you stay grounded when pressure peaks? #EmotionalResilience #CalmUnderPressure #CorporateTraining

NFL prospects face brutal evaluation—careers decided by 100ths of a second. The mental frameworks elite performers use are exactly what separates scaled operators from average ones: Talent alone won't save you. Flaws get magnified under pressure. The 40-yard dash takes seconds. Interviews last 15 minutes. These moments determine million-dollar contracts, and in business, who scales and who stagnates. Throughout your career, you'll face similar high-stakes evaluations: • Your pitch to leadership • The promotion interview you've been grinding for • The performance review that dictates your trajectory The difference between execution and excuses? Mental frameworks. The best operators develop systems for performing under scrutiny. Here are four frameworks that drive results: Framework #1: Control your controllables. Elite performers don't waste energy on decisions they can't influence. They focus exclusively on preparation, execution, and actionable feedback. Everything else is noise—past failures, office politics, competitor moves. Framework #2: Transform setbacks into data. When Richard Sherman was drafted, he didn't see rejection. He saw intel on exactly what needed improvement. This isn't optimism—it's strategic execution that creates competitive leverage. Framework #3: Preparation beats rumination. Top performers convert anxiety into preparation. This systematic approach eliminates the performance gap that overthinking creates. Execution always trumps theory. Framework #4: Build a support firewall. Maintain a tight circle of honest feedback providers to: • Separate signal from noise • Process criticism without emotion • Focus exclusively on high-impact improvements These aren't one-time techniques—they're systems for consistent execution under pressure. Before a recent client pitch, I didn't waste time on "what-ifs." I practiced with my team, focusing only on controllables. Result: we secured the contract against three competitors. At NextLink Labs, we've built these execution principles into our leadership framework, driving 94% client retention. We develop technical experts who can execute with precision when scrutiny is highest. Follow me for more straight-shooting insights on software, cybersecurity, and execution.