Let me provide you with a hypothetical high-pressure state of affairs.You are the pilot of a small, single engine airplane. You are taking off, alone, on this single engine airplane, and head out over a big physique of open water. At about 800 ft above this water, your single engine begins to sound humorous (and never in a “ha-ha” means), and also you discover you are not gaining altitude on the price try to be. At round 1200 ft above the water, your single engine quits.This can be a high-pressure state of affairs. What do you do?Happily for you, it is a hypothetical high-pressure state of affairs. Sadly for me, it wasn’t hypothetical when it occurred to me a number of years in the past.I do not wish to preserve you in suspense, so I will simply say that I survived. As did the airplane. Because the airplane was falling again to earth, I used to be in a position to make a fast U-turn and, with solely inches to spare, handle to land on the runway from which I had simply departed.So why did this high-pressure state of affairs have a cheerful ending? Properly, it got here down to 2 components – the identical two components that can make it easier to survive your high-pressure conditions as nicely.Preparation… and focus.PreparationI had been in conditions that have been much like this earlier than. Throughout flight coaching, my teacher put me by way of dozens (if not lots of) of simulated engine-out drills. Granted, these have been at a a lot larger altitude (which implies extra time to get better), they usually have been solely simulated, however I nonetheless knew the procedures. Additionally, I had (coincidentally) lately begun glider coaching, and had already soloed, so I used to be acquainted with flying with no engine. Once more, not an identical, however I nonetheless had a little bit of an “I’ve been here before” feeling. And eventually, due to some particular coaching I had accomplished with an teacher simply the week earlier than, I knew what angle of financial institution would give me essentially the most flip for the least altitude loss.In different phrases, I had ready for a state of affairs like this. When the difficulty started, the preparation kicked in. I knew what to do as a result of, once more, “I’d been here before.” Your takeaway: One – whenever you’re in a high-pressure state of affairs, suppose again to a time whenever you’ve efficiently gotten by way of an identical state of affairs prior to now. It does not should be an identical, simply related. Remind your self, “I’ve been here before.” And two – anticipate the high-pressure conditions you are prone to face, and prepare for them. Apply them when the stress’s off, and you will be higher outfitted to sort out them when the stress’s on.FocusPrimarily due to my coaching, when the stress hit I went into sharp focus. Analyze the issue, remedy the issue. Nothing extraneous. No ideas of, “Boy, if I wreck the airplane – and am somehow able to walk (or swim) away – what are people going to think of me? It’ll be so embarrassing. And expensive. And if I’m delayed (or worse), who’s gonna feed the dog?” That is all simply noise, and in a high-pressure state of affairs, it’s essential shut out the noise. Your takeaway: If you’re in a high-pressure state of affairs and also you hear the “noise” beginning to enter your mind, ask your self, “What’s the most important thing for me to focus on right now?”It’s possible you’ll by no means should pilot a airplane to an emergency touchdown, however you’ll face different high-pressure conditions in your life – each personally and professionally. In these conditions, your two greatest buddies would be the similar two that saved my bacon: preparation and focus.
