Leadership lessons from coaches, athletes, and teams when the stakes are high. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Read online  /  Manage email preferences

Harvard Business Review

How to perform under pressure

How to perform under pressure

Person seated at a desk in a sunlit office, viewed from behind, working near large windows.

As the World Cup puts elite athletes and teams on display, it’s a reminder that high performance rarely comes down to talent alone. Success is shaped by preparation, decision-making, teamwork, and the ability to respond effectively under pressure.

Those same challenges show up every day in business. Whether you’re leading through uncertainty, making high-stakes decisions, or helping a team perform at its best, the ability to stay focused under pressure matters.

The resources below explore what high performers do differently—and how those same lessons can help leaders navigate pressure, uncertainty, and change. With a subscription, you get full access to these insights, along with new articles, podcasts, videos, and research published every week.

Subscribe now
 

Lessons from elite performers

Illustrated football play diagram showing coaches, players, officials, media, and technology surrounding a game strategy.

How Elite Sports Coaches Make High-Pressure Decisions

What elite coaches know about preparation, trust, and decision-making when the stakes are highest.

 

6 Ways Leaders Harness Stress

High performers don’t eliminate pressure. They learn how to channel it more effectively.

Close-up of molten metal being shaped with a hammer, sending bright sparks outward.
 
Football team huddle with players raising orange helmets above their heads on a field.

New Rules for Teamwork

Research-backed lessons on how today’s highest-performing teams collaborate, adapt, and succeed together.

 

Megan Rapinoe on Team-First Leadership

The World Cup champion shares lessons on motivating teammates, leading through setbacks, and putting the team above individual success.

HBR on Leadership logo with overlapping blue circles on a white background.
 
HBR Executive-branded video thumbnail showing McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown wearing a racing team uniform, centered on a blue background with a play button icon and event branding.

HBR Executive Subscribers Only

Where Speed Meets Strategy

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown reflects on rebuilding culture, sharpening decision-making, and managing risk during a championship season.

Explore subscription options
 

Equip your entire team with trusted insight

When everyone has access to the same rigorous ideas, better decisions follow—across roles, functions, and levels. 

Explore team subscription discounts options.

Overhead view of a meeting at a wooden table, with two people reviewing smartphones and notes.
 
Mobile app interface for e-commerce executives, showcasing analytics and management tools for online retail.

Executive‑level insight, exclusively from HBR

Designed for senior leaders, HBR Executive brings together exclusive content, playbooks, and live events to help leaders navigate their most complex decisions.

Learn more.

 
 
X LogoLinkedIn Logo Facebook LogoInstagram LogoTikTok Logo