Cool as a cucumber

Over the last couple of years I have written predominantly about businesses rather than the people who work in them. I thought that this month, I would have a change of tack and talk about the importance of staying calm and in control in a pressure-filled situation.

One of my earliest experiences of working in a professional firm was in a relatively small firm of accountants run by a senior partner with a volcanic temper, the likes of which I have never experienced either before or since.

A fear of the calm

Work would disappear out of the window, secretaries would be running home in tears, tirades of four-letter words would spew forth practically on an hourly basis. To be fair to him, there was no discrimination. Everyone was treated with equal contempt, be they from the post room or a member of the partnership.

After a while of course, his temper lost it effectiveness. We not only lost respect for him but we also lost our fear. It used to be said that while he was shouting and swearing at you, there was nothing to worry about. It was when he spoke to you in a cool, calm and calculated voice, that your problems were about to begin.

Needless to say, the constant pressure that this put us all under did not improve our performance at all.

If anything, our performance deteriorated and we, of course, avoided him wherever possible. So ultimately, his inability to stay calm under pressure damaged both his and our ability to perform effectively.

Research by Talent Smart has shown that more than 90 per cent of high performers have a high emotional intelligence, and are able to control their feelings at times of high stress. This allows them to stay calm and focussed and achieve the best possible outcome.

Medical research suggests that while intermittent exposure to stress is probably good for you, prolonged exposure can have seriously deleterious effects on both physical and mental health. However work life is becoming increasingly stressful with tighter deadlines, more challenging financial targets and the ever present pressure coming from email and smart phones.

So how can someone stay calm and focussed at times of high pressure, while still performing efficiently and effectively? Here are my top tips.

A structured approach

First, the key to dealing with stress (and life in general) is breathing correctly. Stress is often the result of a large number of small issues rather than one or two major issues. At such times, people tend to take shorter and more rapid breaths, which often lead to an increased feeling of tension.

Try taking long deep breaths. Count to five as you breathe in through your nose, pause, and then can count to ten as you breathe out through your mouth. If you can follow these steps, you will be surprised at the results.

My second tip is to prioritise work in a disciplined way. What has to be done now? What can wait? My desk is covered with lists of what needs to be done and the priority in which it needs to be done. If a piece of work can wait 48 hours, knowing that can reduce stress hugely.

As an aside, I often find that the process of listing work and how long it should take can lead to a realisation that you are not under as much pressure as you thought. It can sometimes have the opposite effect and make it clear to you that you will be unable to meet all of your deadlines, which leads me to my next tip.

Don't forget to look at what you can delegate. Your work colleagues will often be more than happy to help as they will be mindful that next week, it may be they who are under pressure. There may even be other people who are better suited to the task than you, who will be happy to help out.

At BKL we believe that we take a very collegiate approach to the consultancy that we provide, often taking the counsel or input of several people before finalising any advice.

If all else fails, try leaving the office for 10 minutes and walk around the block. I know of one friend who does this every day even if he does not feel under pressure.

If you want to command the respect of those around you and work effectively, you need to ensure that your stress is carefully controlled and managed. 

Geraint Jones is a tax partner at BKL Tax

He writes the regular in-practice article on doing business for Private Client Adviser