Underperformance, Pressure & Unlocking Potential
What do penalty shootouts and workplace performance have in common? More than you might expect.
For years, England’s senior men’s football team consistently underperformed in penalty shootouts—until Gareth Southgate took a different approach ahead of the Russia World Cup. Instead of leaving outcomes to chance or blaming poor technique, he tackled the root causes: pressure, fear of failure, and the performance anxiety that undermined players at key moments. By rethinking preparation, involving psychologists, and reshaping how the team handled high-stakes scenarios, England began to perform under pressure—not in spite of it, but because they addressed it head-on.
But this goes far beyond football. In our own teams and workplaces, how often do we accept underperformance as inevitable, especially in high-pressure environments? How often do we ignore the real factors—silence around pressure, unspoken expectations, and a lack of support—that hold people back from delivering their best?
Our next webinar will focus on beyond the performance costs, as there are legal risks too. When employers fail to acknowledge or address the impact of stress and pressure in the workplace....... save the date and join us for a performance-focused session. Go to our EVENTS page to request your place