Thriving Under Pressure? Purpose, Iteration, Batching

This week I was engaged in a few discussions about how some teams feel that they are constantly under pressure. They feel they don't have breathing space and realise that this is not a situation that is tolerable and sustainable. Often, such circumstances result in burn-outs, attrition of talent and reduced performance. How can we then thrive when we are put under pressure?

Let me first divert into neuroscience. Studies have shown that when we are in a negative emotional state, our creativity and our capability to solve problems is shut down. In order to be effective as a knowledge worker, we want to be in a positive emotional state. Here are three ideas how to achieve this.

1. Follow a purpose - do you have a meaningful answers to the questions, why you want to create these results and who are you creating value for. These will give you an imagination of the desired result and of the path to get there
2. Take small steps - with that desired result in mind, think about the next, immediate steps that take you in the right direction; during these iterations, validate assumptions and focus on the results that you can influence
3. Minimise parallel activities - during a specific period of time (day, week, iteration) limit your focus on a few items, and simply forget about the rest; make your iterations light and achievable; this is also based on the Kanban principle to limit the 'doing' to five items

While you are experimenting with this lighter approach to absorb the pressure from outside, keep a good focus on your social connections - within your team, with the teams around you and with the stakeholders you are creating value for. Make your journey fun.

What is your approach to growing under pressure?

Photo credit: Ainhoa Sanchez, Volvo Ocean Race