Keeping Your Cool Under Pressure

Leaders are expected to lead by example. We are expected to be consistent. Say what you do, do what you say. This was exactly what I experienced today facilitating Day 1 of the weightlifting YOG.

I had students from my volunteer-leadership class acknowledge my presence. One of them came up to me to ask for interpretation of the various nationalities, described as cryptic three-letter acronyms. There were many countries, out of the 205 participating, that we were unfamiliar with. This volunteer staff was attempting to assist the right liaison officers to attend to those who did not speak English. Many of us were not familiar with South America and the new nations that arose after the splintering of the former-USSR, and certainly had no clue to the specific language spoken. She asked a relevant question that may pre-empt future delays and expedite smother flow of actions and decisions.

I heard and encountered several awkward and tensed moments when well-intentioned international officials expected to buttress their way through certain areas, when the competition was on. Those in charge of validating entry passes had to disallow them because of failure to produce the required passes. This led to unpleasant expressions of emotions and disrespectful behavior. Thankfully, our volunteers and officials kept their cool and made their informed decisions. Sometimes, we have to err on the side of diplomacy, tact and security to let things pass.

Officials are in a leadership position, yet if they choose to flout established rules, then they fail to appreciate the core values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship as touted by the Olympic Games. It is disgraceful to present oneself as an elected leader, yet behave inconsistently.

The courage to stand by your beliefs and word is an admirable one. Staying cool under duress is also a skill that is worth exercising.

In triathlons, staying calm and collected is critical as it can spell success or disappointment. If you get a flat tyre, or experience muscle cramps, or have gastrointestinal issues, you will need to manage the moment. When German professional triathlete Norman Stadler suffered two flat tyres during the World Championships, he reacted then responded by having replaced his tyes and then peddling to Transition 2 with a record-breaking 4:18 in the 180km bike leg. The Normanator won his second Ironman World Championship title after he regained his cool head.

Thus, rehearsals, training and practice matter. It prepares us for contingencies. If you simulate race conditions during training, you will stand a better chance of surviving surprises during race day. That is why, training must be close to race conditions so we do not depart from the plan on race day. Nothing new and nothing unfamiliar!

In the heat of the moment, stay cool and think straight in the face of new situations and issues. My team of A1 volunteers and committee members kept their cool throughout today, and I very pleased to have worked (and through all the kinks in the myriad of processes) with them. We learn as we go. It is important to adapt, adopt and be adept in each interaction with others. Thanks guys* for being level-headed!

* Soo Yong, Tom, Colin, Jeanette, Charles, Helen, Pepper, Wan, Alan, Damon, Sandy, Anne and Alex.