RISING UNDER PRESSURE. BECAUSE YOU FAILED.
“I CAN ACCEPT FAILURE, EVERYONE FAILS AT SOMETHING. BUT, I CAN’T ACCEPT NOT TRYING” — MICHAEL JORDAN.
When I decided to write about this topic, I began to shortlist some of the people who had the biggest influence in my life in giving me confidence to always give my best and try.
Then, I noticed that I had only a few names that would make list. Very soon, I could name them all, because there are only a few. These are the most influential people in my last two decades: Blanca Juti, Alain Pourcelot, Andy Kaplan, Emma Aer, Steven Overman, Kati Levoranta and Pierre-Laurent Baudey.
No, they are not in order of influence! Each of them have played an important role in different moments of my life.
Before you continue reading this article, I would like to gratefully THANK each of them for helping me to be the Man, the husband, the leader and the father I have become.
Well, I’m always working in progress! My personal journey is never finished.
I began to ask myself WHY they are inspiring and able to transform people in such a positive way. In the next paragraphs, I will try to explain how I identified one of the main attributes that are imperative to be a great leader.
To illustrate this I will share a key moment in that I was so scared to go for an opportunity but decided to have the courage to give it a try.
It was during a relatively large meeting that happened just 2 months after I joined one of the most iconic sports brands in the world, during the company’s 2014 World Cup Global Kickoff Summit. This event had a little over 300 brand marketing and sales leaders where they shared the World Cup brief and plans with the group.
Michael Gervais, was the main keynote speaker of the event. For those who yet do not know him, he is the sports psychologist who advised the Seattle Seahawks in the year they won the Superbowl. Michael, prepared skydiver Felix Baumgartner for his record-breaking space dive from 24 miles above the earth. It was one of the most inspiring messages I have received.
And, there is a lesson I learned when listening and participating in Michael’s talk. Below I will try my best to share my firsthand experience and the learning I have gained with you.
At the end of his talk, Michael asked for a volunteer to come up to the stage with him. I immediately put my hand up. I didn’t expect to get chosen — this was a room full of experienced and confident executives in a very competitive culture, which in my mind I wouldn’t even be noticed in the middle of the +300 people audience.
But he did did chose me — simply because I was the only who raised my hand.
Once I was on stage, he asked me to recite the entire alphabet. However, as I said each letter, I had to say the number it was in the order of the alphabet, for example, “A…1, B…2, C…3”.
Now, back to you. Stop and try it.
It’s not as easy as it sounds. Especially if you’re doing it in front of 300 people you’ve never met — who were smart enough not to volunteer to do this. To top it off — English is not my native language.
So, I started, slowly and carefully. As I continued without a mistake, I heard the audience beginning to chant and cheer me on. For me, the sounds transported me to a very different part of my life — years ago on a soccer field at Clemson University. I had to focus despite the sounds, just as I did in that stadium. I visualised myself not on a stage but on the field.
I took a long breath, going silent for five seconds before I began again. The silence quieted the crowd, while also appearing confident.
It kept them engaged and rooting for me. I stayed focus on a single point, stopping as needed for another few seconds of silence. I made it all the way through, without a mistake. Michael was shocked — according to him, very few people can do it. A couple people said that from the audience, I found a way to connect with the room and left a strong impression.
And the rapport I built in that moment lasted, I was now associated with confidence, fearless and success of that simple exercise beyond that moment.
Later that evening, at a happy-hour, the company’s former Chief Marketing Officer, engaged on a half-hour long conversation with me — at a much more personal level. Hierarchies were broken! For the next four years, we had coffees a few times a year.
Rising to the pressure in the moment exhibited a confidence and conveyed readiness for high-pressure opportunities in the next few years.
If I was not willing to take a risk and step-up to the occasion I would have been unlikely to connect with future mentors in the normal course of events.
The main takeaway is not about my story of being confident and the ability to rise under pressure. This is about being willing to put yourself out there when it matters the most — great leaders fail trying.
To finish this article, I would like to leave you with a quote from one of the greatest athletes of all times
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed”. — Michael Jordan
Now, back to you. Share a moment and a lesson/tip where you had to rise under pressure?
#uprising #riseup #packleadership
