Under Pressure? Do This First.

Pressure Doesn’t Build Leaders — It Exposes Them

You don’t rise to the occasion.
You fall to the level of your training and your systems.

We’ve all heard that phrase tossed around in high-stress situations. But here’s the truth:

So what does that mean for us? It means we have to have systems in place and we have to train to use them.

Whether you’re navigating team tension, client fire drills, or back-to-back demands — leadership under pressure starts before the pressure hits.

🧠 The Pressure Protocol (Use This First)

When things get chaotic, most leaders either freeze or overreact. But high-performing leaders pause, prioritize, plan, and then proceed.

Here’s the simple 4-step protocol I teach in my workshops and 1-on-1 sessions:

1. Pause - Even a 3 second pause can stop emotional hijacking. Step back. Breathe.

2. Prioritize - What must be handled right now? What can wait?

3. Plan - How do I execute what I just prioritized?

4. Proceed - Make a decision. Execute.

This isn’t a one and done protocol, this is a loop. Run it through once, then run it again! Do it as many times as you need to get through the pressure situation.

💡 Quick Story

A vehicle accident happened right in front of me while driving home one day. A woman swerved across the highway and slammed into the concrete barrier. I used the pressure protocol to stay calm and get me through it.

1. Pause - I pulled over and observed what the aftermath of the crash was.

2. Prioritize - I had a couple of options but decided that I needed to make sure the scene was safe before anything else.

3. Plan - I needed to make sure that no one could hit us while I was trying to help.

4. Proceed - I positioned my truck in a way that would block us and if it got hit, it would move into the road and not into us.

Then I ran it again.

1. Pause - We were safe. I took a deep breath and went to the next step.

2. Prioritize - Now I needed to see if the driver was hurt and conscious.

3. Plan - The airbags had deployed and I couldn’t see. I planned to call out to see if they could hear me and respond. If not, then I would attempt to open the door and re-assess the situation.

4. Proceed - I called out and got no response. So I executed the rest of my plan, opened the door, and continued on with the Pressure Protocol loop.

The driver was hurt and in shock, but she was alive. Once the ambulance and police arrived on scene, I handed the situation over and relayed all of the information on what happened and what actions I had taken. The Pressure Protocol allowed me to stay calm in a stressful moment.

🛠️ Want to Build This Into Your Leadership?

If pressure keeps showing up in your work (and life), I offer Pressure Protocol Training — for individuals and teams.

It’s fast, practical, and built from experience in the real world — not just theory.

Until next time…back your team, trust the process, and lead from the front.
- Jason
Co-Founder, Top Cover Consulting
Leadership isn’t given - it’s built. Own your growth.

P.S. Hit reply and tell me:
What’s the biggest leadership challenge you’re facing right now?

Great leadership doesn’t happen by accident.
If you’re ready to train your team or level up your own leadership, I offer targeted coaching and team training to get you there — fast.
Let’s build your plan.

Email me at [email protected]