High (39-47)
Congratulations - you are performing extremely well under pressure! (or given that this is a self-assessment, it is worth asking whether you answered as honestly you might have. This is no indictment, more a reminder that nobody is going to see your answers - and nobody is perfect. So if you didn’t answer as honestly as you could have, go back and retake the test). If you answered honestly – full congratulations are in line. What is clear is that you work hard at not becoming defensive when criticized and you can stay calm even under pretty intense pressure. You handle setbacks effectively and manage anxiety, stress, anger, and fear in pursuit of a goal. People would say that you maintain a healthy sense of humor even when things get tough. You are not self-referential: you try to see things from another’s perspective and you recognize how your behavior affects others. This is very important for leadership. Finally, though you don`t find it very comfortable (who does?), you air most of your grievances skillfully in your relationships. You are a resource for others who see you as person who they can turn to when they are feeling the pressure.

Areas to work on?

While you are doing great, keep seeing tough feedback and criticism as a way to keep getting better. As we learned working with Olympic athletes over a number of Olympic games: if you think you are ripe, you will begin to rot. So make a commitment to becoming a student of human behavior: read books, watch lectures online, attend training programs and keep learning!

Recommendations for you:

Step 1: Read the Performing Under Pressure book
If you haven’t read it already, this is a great book that provides new research, brain science and strategies to help you stay at the top of your game when dealing with pressure. You can buy the book on Amazon.

Step 2: Emotional Intelligence Training Program
The foundation of performing under pressure is dealing with the emotions that are triggered when you are in a pressure moment. You are clearly doing very well under pressure – but it always helps to sharpen your game. You can continue to grow and learn by attending an Emotional Intelligence training program in a classroom or virtually. In the EI program, you will have the chance to look at what triggers you when you are under pressure and how that impacts the people around you. You will learn strategies to help you cope in pressure filled moments, and connect with people on a deeper emotional level. In addition to on-site and virtual classes, we offer Public Programs available to anyone to attend.

Step 3: Performing Under Pressure Programs
Once you have worked on improving how you manage your emotions under pressure, you are ready to move on to our advanced curriculum, which is made up of two programs: In Performing Under Pressure, you will dive deeper into the cognitive strategies in the book and learn how to manage your thinking when you are under pressure; and in our T hree Conversations of Leadership program, you will learn to have the kinds of conversations that increase trust and create accountability in your relationships.

Performing Under Pressure Self-Assessment KPMG programs