While attending the Memorial Golf tournament at Muirfield Village this weekend I was really struck by the calm demeanor most players exhibit under pressure.
The crowd is watching. The players’ internal voices are either celebrating or criticizing depending on the shot and the external weather and course conditions play a factor.
We all face pressure every day. It can be from a client, colleague, our own self or external deadlines. How we respond impacts our ability to focus, connect and produce. It also impacts our team.
Like the gallery on the course, a good leader realizes that the team is always watching and observing.
If you signal confidence, they will be confident. If you signal panic and worry, they will pick up on that as well.
Having an ability to stay calm, be present and block out the noise around us is imperative. Doing so will allow you to lead your team around any course, no matter how challenging.