Most of use are all busy people across all aspects of life and have lots of pressures at times whether from work or home life. In those moments of crisis and pressure, what determines our actions? Is it our grand aspirations to do things or something more foundational?
“Under duress, we do not rise to our expectations, but fall to our level of training.”
This quote, often attributed to Bruce Lee (Martial Artist) is also often attributed to Archilochus, an ancient Greek poet and soldier. The quote speaks volumes about human behaviour under stress and illustrates a crucial principle when we are faced with challenging and pressured situations. It’s not our high hopes, aspirations or lofty goals that guide us, but the habits and skills we have learnt and consistently practiced.
The Reality of Pressure Situations
To highlight this, lets look at an example of an IT security analyst responding to a cyberattack on their company’s network.
When under the immense pressure of a breach, there’s no time to sit back and hope for the best. Instead, the analyst relies on their extensive training and established protocols to navigate the situation.
The analyst will follow a series of pre-determined steps, such as identifying the type of attack, isolating affected systems, and initiating incident response procedures. These steps have been practiced through countless drills and simulations, ensuring the analyst can act quickly and effectively.
In this high-stress and pressured scenario to work quickly and effectively, the analyst’s ability to fall back on their training (rather than relying on expectations or hopeful thinking) ensures a swift and appropriate response, minimizing the potential damage from the attack.
Training as the foundations of Performance
The same principle applies across various fields, whether it’s in business, sports, military operations, or even everyday life.
- Athletes spend countless hours perfecting their techniques so that when they’re in the heat of competition, their muscle memory takes over.
- Soldiers engage in relentless training exercises, ensuring their reactions in combat are swift and precise.
- In the corporate world, professionals rely on their training to handle high-stakes negotiations or crisis management.
The Myth of Rising to the Occasion
It’s a comforting notion to believe that we can rise to any occasion, summoning extraordinary abilities (your own superpowers of knowledge, wisdom and experience) in these critical moments. However, this is often a myth as under stress, our cognitive resources are fully engaged and taxed, and our decision-making abilities can falter. What you have learned (training) and practiced provides a reliable fallback, guiding your actions when the conscious mind is overwhelmed.
Building Resilience Through Preparation
Understanding this principle – “build resilience through preparation” – encourages a shift in focus. Rather than solely aiming for high expectations, you should prioritise consistent and thorough training. By doing so, we build a foundation that can support us even in the most trying times. This approach not only enhances performance but also fosters resilience, as we’re better equipped to handle stress and adversity.
It is important to identify your training needs and how you can practice these so when you face a pressured situations, your muscle memory kicks in and you can easily respond to the situation. The strength to get though lies in preparation, guided by a solid foundation of practiced skills. Make sure it’s robust, consistent, and reliable.
What are you going to learn and practice next?
Max Hemingway 
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