Under Pressure

5 tips to communicate better in high-pressure environments

Communicating in pressure-filled situations can be difficult regardless of where you are in your professional journey. Here are five tips to help with communication in high-pressure environments, so you can create less friction and open opportunities for success:

1. Does it need to be said now? When communicating in high-stakes situations, having an actionable filter is critical, so information that is important in the moment can get to where it can do the most good. If what you want to say will not change the outcome immediately, wait to bring it up.
2. Context counts: Your peers cannot read your mind. Before moving forward with critical pieces of a project, state the goal and the reason for the work. This prevents errors related to tunnel vision and creates good communication.
3. Use your strengths: Remember what you are good at. Success in high-pressure envi-r-onments relies on doing what 
you do best to keep moving toward the goal. If a task requires a skill you need to develop, find someone to work with or identify it early.
4. Put distractions down: Smartphones are a great way to share information quickly, but they are also distraction machines. When in high-stakes situations, turn on “Do Not Disturb” or turn off your phone completely; even a vibration alert can steal your attention.
5. Focus on problems, not people: It’s essential to be direct, but it’s even more critical to focus on the problem — not the person — when speaking with candor. The goal is to address barriers and create opportunities, not assign blame in the moment.