I attended my son’s fifth-grade spelling bee. His name was called for the opening round. As he walked up, I could tell he was nervous by how he held his lower lip. He approached the mic, noticed my wife and me, and smiled. But seeing us also distracted him.

The teacher read his word. Not a hard one. But he got it wrong. He forgot a vowel. I could see on his face that he recognized his mistake as soon as he made it. And just like that, he was out. Spelling bees are low-forgiveness events. One strike, and that’s it.

What made it tough was that he’d been the fourth-grade spelling bee champ. This kid reads more than most adults. (That morning, he was telling me about the 600-page novel he was reading.) He knew how to spell. But in that moment, nerves got the better of him.

As I watched, I realized something: success isn’t just about knowledge; it’s about how we handle pressure.

Afterward, I told him this: “I know you knew that word. You just got nervous. I get nervous too. To me, more important than spelling well is learning how to feel nervous—or any other uncomfortable feeling—and still do what needs to be done.”

I encouraged him to keep putting himself in situations that make him uncomfortable. The more familiar that feeling becomes, the less it will overwhelm him.

Spelling matters. But in leadership—just like in life—what matters more is the ability to perform under pressure. It’s the ability to do what needs to be done, no matter how you feel.

The Real Edge in Leadership Under Pressure

Nerves and uncertainty are common in leadership. As are excitement, anger, super-optimism, and doubt.

If you’re a leader, you know this. What you may not know is that everyone else is a jumbled mix of emotions as well. In my work with executives, I’ve seen firsthand that leadership success is less about making perfect decisions and more about managing emotions under pressure.

Leadership doesn’t equate to a steady sense of confidence. Emotions happen. And they can contribute to mistakes. (Not having emotions also contributes to mistakes. There will be mistakes!)

Good leaders recognize mistakes quickly, correct them, and learn from them. They recognize their emotional state—and manage it. They get back on track and keep moving forward in the right direction when the stakes are high.

You only learn this by putting yourself out there.

The best leaders understand that emotional intelligence is just as important as strategic thinking. The ability to stay steady in uncertain moments, make clear-headed decisions, and guide others through turbulence defines great leadership under pressure.

How to Lead Effectively When the Pressure is On

Here are three key practices to stay grounded under pressure:

1. Pause and Breathe – A single deep breath can shift your focus from reaction to intention.
2. Reframe the Situation – Instead of seeing high-stakes moments as threats, view them as opportunities for growth.
3. Trust Yourself – Doubt can creep in, but remind yourself of past wins and lean into your experience.

By mastering these strategies, leaders can navigate challenges without being overwhelmed by emotions. Leadership under pressure isn’t about avoiding emotions—it’s about managing them.

When everything is on the line, how do you stay steady? Do you have a routine, a mantra, or a reset strategy? Mastering leadership under pressure isn’t about perfection; it’s about resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to step into discomfort.

Take good care,
Christian