Why thriving under pressure might be holding you back
I’ve always been the kind of person who prides myself on being able to handle tough situations. Pressure, chaos, uncertainty, those moments don’t rattle me. If anything, they tend to bring out my best. While some people get overwhelmed, I’ve learned how to stay calm, think clearly, and move forward.
Early in my career, I worked at a telemarketing sales company called MCI. It was known for constant change. Things were always shifting, and for a lot of people, that kind of environment was frustrating. They were trying to adapt, trying to survive in a high-pressure sales culture that didn’t slow down for anyone. But for me, when change happened, it didn’t shake me. In fact, it energized me. While others were frustrated and trying to keep up, I usually found a way to quickly leverage that change to my benefit.
Somewhere along the way, I started to adopt a philosophy: I can function in a crisis. Not only that, but I begin to believe that I can function WELL in a crisis. I saw success because of it too, winning several awards, and my ability to perform under pressure played a big role. So being able to function well in a crisis isn’t a bad thing. In fact, for some people, it can be a real strength. But if you’re not careful, that strength can quietly turn into something else.
In his book Soundtracks, Jon Acuff points out a potential downside for people who see themselves this way, people who feel like they are built for crisis, who thrive in it, or even prefer it. What starts as a strength can slowly become something you depend on without even realizing it.
Acuff points out that there are levels to crisis functioning, and not all of them are healthy:
- I can function in a crisis.
Pressure doesn’t break you. You can step up when it matters most. This is a strength. - I function best in a crisis.
Now pressure sharpens you. Urgency brings clarity. Deadlines bring focus. At this point, you may notice that you perform at your highest levels mainly when the pressure is on. That can be a good or a bad thing. - I need a crisis to function.
This is where it turns destructive. It’s no longer just how you operate, it’s what you rely on.
At a glance, those three levels may not seem that far apart. In fact, the first two can feel like strengths. But it’s that third level that deserves a closer look, because that’s where things begin to shift in a subtle but dangerous way.
And if we’re being honest, some people don’t just wait on the pressure… they unintentionally create it. They procrastinate. They delay. They avoid. Not because they don’t care, but because somewhere along the way they train themselves to believe, “I need this level of urgency in order to get going.”
That’s not discipline. That’s dependency. Over time, it turns into self-sabotage. You don’t mean to hurt yourself or create chaos, but you keep putting yourself in positions where the only way to win is to dig out at the last second.
And one of the most common ways this shows up is through procrastination.
Some people say they can get it done at the last minute, and that may be true. Then it turns into believing they actually do their best work under pressure. But eventually, it becomes a pattern where they wait until the last minute just so they can function. And here’s the problem, you can get away with that for a season, but not forever. Eventually, it catches up with you.
Here’s the truth. The goal is not just to function. The goal is to produce, to lead, to operate with excellence. If you’re always waiting until the last minute just to function, you’ll never reach excellence. You might get it done, but it won’t be your best. Excellence requires margin. It requires thought. It requires intention, and crisis doesn’t give you any of that. So don’t let a crisis of procrastination pull you into a funk. What feels like pressure helping you perform might actually be the very thing holding you back.
Take a moment to consider this. Do you handle pressure well, or do you depend on it? Because real leadership isn’t just about showing up when everything is falling apart. It’s about building a life, a team, and a rhythm that doesn’t require chaos to succeed.
Don’t settle for getting it done.
Stop waiting on pressure to make you move.
Be the kind of person who gets things done with excellence.
Alex Bryant is a pastor, author, and speaker who writes about race, faith, and culture in America.
