Let me provide you with a hypothetical high-pressure scenario.You are the pilot of a small, single engine airplane. You’re taking off, alone, on this single engine airplane, and head out over a big physique of open water. At about 800 ft above this water, your single engine begins to sound humorous (and never in a “ha-ha” means), and also you discover you are not gaining altitude on the price you ought to be. At round 1200 ft above the water, your single engine quits.This can be a high-pressure scenario. What do you do?Fortuitously for you, it is a hypothetical high-pressure scenario. Sadly for me, it wasn’t hypothetical when it occurred to me a number of years in the past.I do not wish to hold you in suspense, so I am going to simply say that I survived. As did the airplane. Because the aircraft was falling again to earth, I used to be in a position to make a fast U-turn and, with solely inches to spare, handle to land on the runway from which I had simply departed.So why did this high-pressure scenario have a cheerful ending? Properly, it got here down to 2 components – the identical two components that can enable you survive your high-pressure conditions as properly.Preparation… and focus.PreparationI had been in conditions that had been just like this earlier than. Throughout flight coaching, my teacher put me via dozens (if not a whole lot) of simulated engine-out drills. Granted, these had been at a a lot greater altitude (which implies extra time to get well), they usually had been solely simulated, however I nonetheless knew the procedures. Additionally, I had (coincidentally) lately begun glider coaching, and had already soloed, so I used to be conversant in flying with no engine. Once more, not similar, however I nonetheless had a little bit of an “I’ve been here before” feeling. And eventually, due to some particular coaching I had completed with an teacher simply the week earlier than, I knew what angle of financial institution would give me probably the most flip for the least altitude loss.In different phrases, I had ready for a scenario like this. When the difficulty started, the preparation kicked in. I knew what to do as a result of, once more, “I’d been here before.” Your takeaway: One – if you’re in a high-pressure scenario, assume again to a time if you’ve efficiently gotten via an analogous scenario up to now. It does not should be similar, simply related. Remind your self, “I’ve been here before.” And two – anticipate the high-pressure conditions you are prone to face, and prepare for them. Apply them when the strain’s off, and you will be higher geared up to deal with them when the strain’s on.FocusPrimarily due to my coaching, when the strain hit I went into sharp focus. Analyze the issue, resolve the issue. Nothing extraneous. No ideas of, “Boy, if I wreck the airplane – and am somehow able to walk (or swim) away – what are people going to think of me? It’ll be so embarrassing. And expensive. And if I’m delayed (or worse), who’s gonna feed the dog?” That is all simply noise, and in a high-pressure scenario, you must shut out the noise. Your takeaway: While you’re in a high-pressure scenario and also you hear the “noise” beginning to enter your mind, ask your self, “What’s the most important thing for me to focus on right now?”You might by no means should pilot a aircraft to an emergency touchdown, however you’ll face different high-pressure conditions in your life – each personally and professionally. In these conditions, your two greatest mates would be the identical two that saved my bacon: preparation and focus.
