Better Under Pressure

Today I’m talking to award-winning actor, comedian, and writer, Hugh Dennis. Best known for BBC1’s critically acclaimed sitcom OUTNUMBERED, he has also played an emotionally tortured Bank Manager in the BAFTA-winning show FLEABAG, Toby in the sitcom, NOT GOING OUT, and was an ever-present panellist on BBC 2’s long-running weekly satirical show MOCK THE WEEK. 

Hugh has also been a regular for over 25 years on BBC Radio 4, both writing and presenting their Friday night comedy THE NOW SHOW.

In our conversation, Hugh (whose real name is Pete, by the way) shares…
- Why he thinks allowing a bit of self doubt is a good thing.
- How his job at Unilever helped keep him grounded
- And what having a bishop for a father taught him about performance.

 

00:00 Intro
02:11 What is your experience with Pressure?
06:23 Performance, Doubt & the Power of dress and how you show up
12:01 How does openly admitting mistakes impact an audience?
13:21 Pressure in organisations: How can your current work help leaders manage it?
19:55 How did managing a side project alongside a full-time job benefit you?
24:05 How has prioritizing your core business, while managing multiple interests, impacted your focus & enjoyment of work?
26:55 Transforming a group of experts into a collaborative team - focused on a clear & shared goal
32:49 Insight 1: Lessons learned
37:41 How do you maintain focus on your tasks without letting external distractions in?
41:10 Do you see pressure as essential for growth, and how do you manage it effectively?
45:51 Insight 2: Lessons learned
49:58 What drives you to continue your work, and what goals do you have for the next 20 years?
53:12 What 2 things would you pay forward to others wanting to be better under pressure?
58:57 What are your non-negotiable practices for staying energised & fueled for your work?
01:00:28 Outro

Today I’m talking to Genevieve Shore, a serial non-executive Director who has held Board level positions within organisations across several industries, territories and cultures.  Her credit roll of organisations includes Santander, Arup, Moneysupermarket, Lego Education, STV and the RFU. 

With her sporting background - having played international Rugby for England and winning the World Cup in 1994 - it’s no surprise that Genevieve is currently Chair of the Women’s Premier 15 Ltd. At the same time, she also chairs the North Highland Initiative - a non-profit organisation established because of King Charles III's commitment to support the people and businesses of the North Highlands. 

In our conversation, Genevieve shares

- What she means by positive pressure 

- Her experience of toxic workplace bullies

- And how teamwork in the changing room trained her for the boardroom.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
03:06 What does Pressure mean to you?
05:51 How do you distinguish between good & bad pressure and manage both as a leader?
10:33 How have your sports experiences shaped your team-building and leadership approach?
15:30 What was the worst Pressure that you’ve ever experienced?
18:05 How do you maintain stability & manage yourself in unfamiliar organisational situations?
22:58 Insight 1: Lessons learned
27:56 How does thorough preparation help manage pressure in critical situations?
30:55 When you observe people under pressure, what do you typically notice?
35:16 How have detailed preparation & cultural fit helped you cope with intense pressure?
38:11 In the heart of corporate life, what were your daily non-negotiables?
39:37 Looking back, what advice would you give yourself about handling pressure?
48:23 Insight 2: Lessons learned
50:12 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?
54:47 Outro

 

Today I’m talking to Calum Clark, ex-international Rugby Union player turned high-performance psychologist. 

Having started on the rugby trail aged just 15, Calum turned professional three years later and spent fourteen years playing at the highest level He turned out for three different Premiership clubs as well as England. In that time he experienced the highs of winning 3 Premiership titles and 2 European Cups and the lows of career-threatening injuries, disciplinary setbacks, and various off-field issues. Realising there was a lack of professional support, guidance and expertise to help navigate such things, he completed the first of two Psychology MScs alongside the final years of his playing career. He then became Head of Player Development and Wellbeing at Saracens, before going on to become their Head of Psychological Performance, with a number of his clients, including Ben Earl, going on to excel at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

In our conversation, Calum shares…
- The importance of drilling - as an individual and as a team.
- How we all need a north star…
- And which pressure was worse - playing for England or finishing his Psychology thesis.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:35 When did you first recognise the feeling of pressure?
03:21 How did you know that it was Pressure?
04:01 Has pressure ever enhanced your performance, or has it typically hindered you?
07:30 How do you recognise and respond to the need for change under pressure?
13:32 What personal habits help you maintain a singular focus?
17:35 Insight 1: Lessons learned
20:49 How do you utilise pressure when the stakes aren't strictly win or lose?
22:00 What is the worst pressure that you’ve ever faced?
23:48 How do you handle external pressures and opinions that affect your performance?
29:20 How do you navigate past actions or misconceptions that affect your reputation?
34:41 Insight 2: Lessons learned
36:58 How do you keep a team unified and manage pressure effectively?
39:24 Example of a drill or team commitment used during high-pressure moments
40:36 How do incremental pressure tactics in rehearsals prepare performers for live shows?
44:34 What 2 things would you pay forward to others wanting to be better under pressure?

Today I'm thrilled to welcome back Mollie Pearse, Meta’s Head of Marketing for EMEA, for round two of our insightful conversation on "Better Under Pressure."

Mollie's journey from entrepreneurial beginnings to leading teams at top organizations like IMG, Octagon, HSBC, and LinkedIn before landing at Meta showcases her remarkable leadership and dedication to 'audience-first' marketing principles.

Outside of work, Mollie's passion for pushing boundaries shines through her pursuits in ultra-distance sports, where she explores the depths of human potential while raising funds for charity.

As our discussion unfolded, it was clear that there were too many valuable insights to fit into one episode, so we're back for more!

In this episode, Mollie delves into:

- The challenging decision to step back from a 24-hour endurance race and the importance of listening to one's body and mind.
- Her approach to fostering a sense of belonging within teams, grounded in shared human experiences and authentic connections.
- A pivotal interview experience where she embraced her unique strengths and dared to 'play her game.'

If you missed our initial conversation, be sure to catch up before diving into this one!

Connect with Mollie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-pearse-09842b28/?originalSubdomain=uk

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:59 When has pressure truly overcome you?
08:30 How do excitement and nerves affect performance and required discipline?
12:53 How do impulsive decisions under pressure impact our actions and safety?
16:15 Insight 1: Lessons learned
20:03 Reframing Failure: How can learning from setbacks empower us more than dwelling on them?
23:37 How can we better analyze successes to enhance future performance?
24:53 How did you break norms in a job interview to meet your own expectations?
28:55 Where did you find the courage to take bold actions?
34:32 How do you choose the right people for advice when facing big decisions?
36:52 How do you update your support network to match your growth from excellence to genius?
38:48 Insight 2: Lessons learned
41:49 How do you manage the different demands in your life as you continue to grow and develop?
47:34 How much personal vulnerability do you share with your team, and when is it beneficial?
50:49 What key insight are you taking away from our conversation today?
53:38 Outro

Today I’m talking to Mollie Pearse, Meta’s Head of Marketing for EMEA. Having started her career as an entrepreneurial businesswoman and quickly learning the power of true ‘audience-first’ marketing, she has since led teams at IMG, Octagon, HSBC and LinkedIn before arriving at Meta.
Mollie inspires her teams to think differently about commercial goals, enabling them to surpass expectations. When she isn’t doing that, she’s out exploring the limits of human potential by running, swimming and cycling ultra-distances to expand her comfort zone and raise money for charity.
As I spoke with Mollie, it soon became abundantly clear there were far too many nuggets to squeeze into a single 50 minute podcast, so we broke it into two conversations.
In this, our first conversation, Mollie shares…
- How hating sport as a child helped her gain power over her environment…
- What she learnt from swimming in open water through jellyfish…
- And why we should all have our Personal Board of Directors.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:57 How would you describe your relationship with Pressure?
04:36 Embracing Pressure: Transforming It into Your Secret Sauce for Growth
07:44 Have you ever faced pressure that felt bigger than you?
10:16 Turning Pressure into Power: Can Personal Challenges Transform How We Handle Stress?
13:23 How do you guide others to see pressure as opportunity?
20:00 Insight 1: Lessons learned
24:00 How does a sense of purpose influence your approach to pressure?
31:43 What current pressure are you actively tackling with your techniques?
35:23 Insight 2: Lessons learned
40:56 What's your advice for focusing on what's important in fast-paced environments?
43:33 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?
46:30 What warning signals indicate you're putting yourself at risk?

Today I’m talking to Tendai Wileman, Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust. Tendai grew up in Zimbabwe and went to university in South Africa, before completing an MBA at Warwick Business School. Over two decades, Tendai has held various corporate and operational roles in healthcare, and has spent the last 10 years leading large-scale change within and across functional and organisational boundaries. 
She is a sponsor of the LGBT+ network at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ and is passionate about diversity and inclusion, believing strongly that ‘that which unites us all, is greater than that which separates us’. 

In our conversation, Tendai shares…

- Her desire to keep learning and saying ‘Yes’ to the Discomfort Zone
- Finding the balance between the external and the internal
- And the questions she asks her NHS team when they are all under pressure

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:48 How does Pressure turn up for you?
04:48 Transforming Self-Doubt into Growth: Finding Enough Within
08:58 Balancing Self-Awareness and Recognizing Pressure Signals in Ourselves and Others
11:58 Managing Key Pressures Across Work Responsibilities & Home Life
15:37 Leading Under NHS Pressure: Real-World Strategies for Inspiring & Energizing Teams
22:30 Insight 1: Lessons learned
24:31 The Power of 'Why': Shaping Perspective through Purpose
25:34 Discovering Resilience: What Fuels the Ability to Stay Strong?
33:41 Reframing Challenges: Transforming Pressure into an Opportunity for Growth
43:52 Insight 2: Lessons learned
46:52 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to people listening?