Companies train their employees for the jobs they do. That’s a given. Even if they’re versed in their field, new hires need guidance to get up to speed on the ins and outs of the company, learn about their specific role there, and establish their workflow. Many companies also provide employee training to learn skills they’ll need to become better workers. But how often do companies invest in creating employees who work well under pressure? The answer is: not very. 

Creating Pressure Workers

Working under pressure is something many people must become familiar with, yet many companies treat it as a trait rather than a skill. As Lorri Freifield (@LorriFreifield) Editor-in-Chief of Training Mag writes, employers simply don’t value teaching employees how to deal with pressure:

"While companies are willing to invest in leadership development programs and compliance training and onboarding, they aren’t necessarily interested in shelling out bucks for a pressure management training program—or even admitting that their employees are under pressure. In fact, many companies are firm believers in using pressure to push employees to 'rise to the occasion.' So an inability to handle pressure often is perceived as individual weakness rather than a human nature norm.” 

Without this sort of employee training, companies leave stressful times to chance. When it comes to dealing with pressure, many people fall into the “Warrior” or “Worrier” camps, depending on how they’re able to deal with dopamine, a hormone that helps regulate brain activity. Some employees will be able to deal with pressure, and some won’t. With proper training, all employees will ideally deal with pressure eloquently. 

Alleviate the Pressure with Coaching 

If you’re dedicated to implementing a pressure training program, being personal is the way to go. In a recent case study, The Institute for Health and Human Potential (IHHP) created and conducted a pressure management training program to use with the technical and operations organization of a major Canadian bank. The IHHP would work with employees to help them adapt to high-pressure situations with a combination of a two-day training program, online learning and individual coaching.

As a result of the program, the organization saw increases to their employee engagement, learning and people management. 29% of respondents said they used the tools of the program, and 79% of those who received coaching used those same tools. When crafting a pressure management training program, the results are clear — personal, one-on-one coaching can provide enormous benefits. 

The Benefits of Working Well Under Pressure 

Pressure training programs have several direct benefits. Those who know how to deal with pressure can make better decisions, perform better and increase productivity. In fact, 90% of top performers at companies are skilled at managing their emotions in times of stress, and they’re able to remain calm and in control. So when you help your employees and managers deal with pressure, you’re making them better employees.

Beyond creating employees who produce better results while working under pressure, these kinds of programs also provide a number of other benefits to employees and companies. Once a well-implemented pressure training program has taken root, employees are less likely to feel stressed out when the pressure begins to pile on. The benefits of reducing stress at work are well-documented; stress intervention programs, for example, have been known to reduce blood pressure and improve emotional health in employees, making them healthier and more productive. 

Bio: Sean Pomeroy

While selling other companies software solutions, Sean worked with Michael Warden to design over a dozen applications for different organizations and industries over the years. Sean now focuses on the vision for the company, business development, and continues involvement in the software design of Cyber Recruiter, applicant tracking system and Cyber Train, learning management system. Want to see what Visibility Software has to offer? Take a demo now.

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