Pressure to perform feels uncomfortable. Deadlines tighten. Expectations rise. The spotlight gets hot. In marketing, these moments are familiar: the big pitch, the executive dinner, the client presentation that carries real consequences. But pressure rarely appears without purpose.
Being trusted with these kinds of tasks signals that responsibility has been earned. Expectations are high because credibility has been established. No one places meaningful responsibility on someone they don’t believe can handle it. The presence of pressure is often evidence of trust.
The next time the inclination to retreat from pressure arises, it may be worth reframing the situation. Billie Jean King, who coined the phrase, put it simply: “Pressure is a privilege. It means what you’re doing matters.” Find inspiration in this fact and never miss a chance to do something (anything) to the best of your ability.
Please write in the comments and tell us how you deal with the pressures of your job. We would love to start a dialogue!
Lee Sumner – VP Research
