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Crunch Time

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Crunch Time

How to Be Your Best When It Matters Most

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

To keep pressure from undermining your performance, try “reframing.” Then you can’t imagine striking out.

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Editorial Rating

8
getAbstract International Book Award Winner 2018

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Performance anxiety can be a formidable opponent, whether you’re a professional athlete, surgeon, salesperson or student. How you deal with pressure often determines if you are going to succeed or fail. Rick Peterson, a well-respected major league baseball pitching coach for many years, shares valuable techniques and concepts for overcoming difficult, stress-filled situations. Peterson and leadership development expert Judd Hoekstra explain how to turn fear and doubt into opportunity. Their philosophy uses “reframing,” the ability to look at a situation differently and avoid intimidation, and “chunking,” breaking daunting challenges down into smaller pieces. getAbstract believes that their practical, insightful guide can help you interpret events in a way that turns threats into challenges – and challenges into opportunities.

Summary

“Reframing” Changes Everything

Everyone faces high-pressure conditions sometimes. Though you may aim for optimal performance under those circumstances, your results can be disappointing. In many instances, people are their own worst enemies; they allow pressure to influence their results.

Elite performers master the art of reframing: approaching a situation with a different mind-set that makes it more manageable. The technique of reframing is available to everyone. It has nothing to do with your physical skills or abilities – you simply have to practice. Reframing means trying to find the best solution in a “less-than-ideal situation.”

Changing your perspective produces better decisions and better outcomes. Modified thinking helps you deal with self-imposed pressure. However, reframing can’t enable you to do better work when you’re stressed than you do when you aren’t stressed. Your goal is to perform equally well either way.

Reframing is valuable because:

  • Anyone can learn to reframe – rich or poor, healthy or unhealthy, that doesn’t matter.
  • You can change your thoughts – and thus your stress level – immediately.

About the Authors

Long-time Major League Baseball pitching coach Rick Peterson is a sought-after motivational speaker. Judd Hoekstra is a vice president at The Ken Blanchard Companies.

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