Better Under Pressure

In this episode, I’m talking to Neil Mullarkey, a unique communication expert. You may recognise him from his performances in 'Whose Line Is it Anyway' and two 'Austin Powers' movies. He still performs most Sundays with the Comedy Store Players, Europe's top improv troupe, which he co-founded with Mike Myers. But he now travels the world bringing the skills of theatre and especially improv, focusing on creativity, collaboration and leadership to clients including EY, Deloitte, Vodafone, Accenture and Unilever. 

His new book, *In The Moment*, was published by Kogan Page in June 2023. https://neilmullarkey.com/inthemomentbook
Mike Myers describes it as ‘a creative masterclass for every moment.'
Matt Brittin (President of Google, Europe, Middle East, Africa) says, ‘Neil’s model and how he applies it in different ways is really simple yet powerful. In a world that's more volatile and uncertain than ever, businesses need leaders who can be agile, adaptive, innovative. Neil's always promoted this brilliantly , but without the business jargon. ’

Visit http://neilmullarkey.com/ (And, yes, Mullarkey is his real name)

 

Outline📍
03:22 Is Pressure Vital for you in order to Perform?
05:01 Transforming Pressure into an Essential Ingredient: Navigating & Embracing Challenges
10:47 Handling Pressure: Developing Skills & Daily Rituals for Success
17:49 Neil's Pre-Performance Physical Preparation
20:01 Insight 1: Lessons learned
23:54 Optimizing Self-Care During Critical Moments
25:59 Viewing Pressure as an Opportunity: Improv Skills for Managing Challenging Conversations
34:23 What’s the worst Pressure you have ever been under?
26:59 Neil's Professional Moments Bossed by His Nervous System
43:37 Insight 2: Lessons learned
45:37 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?
50:37 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Emma Dagnes, Chief Executive of Alexandra Park and Palace, an iconic public building towering over north London that is over 150 years old, was the original home of BBC Television and is now home to world sporting events, indoor and outdoor concerts and festivals, a theatre and even an ice rink. It’s also where I have pushed buggies and walked with my family and my dog over the last 25 years.

Of Emma’s 25 years working across entertainment, recreation and leisure, both in the public and private sectors, the last twelve have been at the Palace - helping to lift the organisation to be a recognised and respected cultural destination. Before becoming CEO, she led the growth of the trading subsidiary as Managing Director and then became Deputy CEO of the Charity, overseeing an award-winning restoration that cost £27 million. 

In our conversation, she shares
- How she learned that her dyslexia was a superpower
- Why the original Alexandra Palace Theatre was worth its multi-million restoration 
- And the impact of seeing your purpose play out every day.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
03:18 What does Pressure mean to you?
04:21 Balancing Act: Navigating the Pull and Push of Responsibilities
05:54 Embracing Positive Pressure: Early Lessons and Clarity
08:45 Embracing Dyslexia as a Superpower: The Power of a Supportive Community
13:02 The Pressure of Being a CEO
15:37 Balancing Pressure: Emma's Strategies for Resilience and Focus
19:15 Supporting and Energizing Your Team Through Leadership and Pressure Management
21:44 Insight 1: Lessons learned
24:15 Recognizing Signs of Pressure as a Leader
26:38 Maintaining Energy and Support for Others Despite Personal Pressure
31:10 Balancing Energy in High Turnover and Diverse Interactions
35:48 Approaching Leadership Meetings Without Defensiveness
37:48 What’s the Worst Pressure You’ve Ever Been Under?
44:36 Do you think you could survive without Pressure?
47:57 Insight 2: Lessons learned
50:07 What 2 things would you pay forward to others wanting to be Better Under Pressure?
53:32 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Edith Bardin – Global Insights Manager at Shell. The word Global is very apt when referring to Edith. Born in Luxembourg - and consequently speaking 5 languages - her two decades building ‘global consumer insights’ expertise have taken her all sorts of places, including northern Europe, the UK, Canada and even Mauritius.  She now is a worldwide authority on everything from decoding consumers’ minds in retail, entertainment and packaging - to embracing the evolving landscape of air travel and, most recently, e-mobility.

In our conversation, Edith shares...
- What she discovered about her efficiency at work after she’d had children.
- What doing a charity swim taught her about herself.
- And how it affected her growing up as ‘an unexpected triplet’

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:21 Do you remember the first time you experienced pressure?
03:33 From Accidental Triplet to Understanding Pressure Perspectives
07:17 Navigating Pressure: Balancing Motherhood, Career, and Achievement
11:27 Committing to Purpose: Finding Discipline Beyond Self-Interest
13:32 Fulfillment and Family: Being Better for Yourself and Others
14:24 Insight 1: Lessons learned
16:44 Defining Pressure: Perspectives and Insights
18:42 Balancing Instinct & Responsibility: Managing Energy for Daily Pressures & Loved Ones
23:38 What’s the worst pressure that you’ve ever been under?
28:53 Juggling Home & Work: Managing Pressures and Finding Moments to Decompress
32:26 Do you think you are Better Under Pressure?
36:23 Insight 2: Lessons learned
37:55 What two pieces of advice would you pass forward to people listening?
45:00 Outro

 

In this episode, I’m talking to Tom Hall, Vice President and General Manager of LEGO Education International.

Having previously held leadership positions at Pearson and Penguin Random House UK, Tom is experienced in leading global teams through complex change management programs and creating partnership ecosystems.

As a trustee of AQA, the UK’s leading assessment provider, and a former board member of the British Educational Suppliers Association, it’s no surprise to learn that Tom is passionate about the impact education can make for individuals and society around the world and is dedicated to using LEGO Education solutions to deliver STEAM learning to empower teachers and students.

- In our conversation, Tom shares…

- What he does in order to check out on Friday feeling calm

- What it’s like leading in a cultural melting pot

- And why you’re only as good as the system you’re operating in.

Connect with Tom👇
LinkedIn: Hall Tom
Twitter: @tomjhall

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:46 Recognising when pressure turns negative
04:45 Identifying Positive Pressure: The Motivating Spark
07:51 Handling preparation in the midst of distractions
13:32 Leading by Example: Building Pressure Resilience
16:03 Insight 1: Lessons learned
19:00 When Pressure shows up unnoticed
24:24 What’s the worst pressure you’ve ever been under?
31:03 Looking Back: Advice for my younger self
42:59 Reflecting on Pressure: When is it enough?
45:08 Insight 2: Lessons learned
46:53 Progression: Tracking It Year by Year
50:39 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to people listening?
53:16 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Tom Sherrington – education consultant and author. With 30 years' experience as a teacher and school leader, Tom is now teaching teachers, through his ground-breaking series of WalkThru books – which, at the last count, are being used in 50 countries around the world. Everywhere from Brighton to Brazil, from Norwich to New Zealand. Tom also coaches through his blog, teacherhead.com, which has thousands of followers.

Tom is in demand worldwide and works with hundreds of schools and colleges providing training and consultancy support to improve the quality of teaching.  As such, he is a regular keynote speaker at many education conferences and festivals. 

In our conversation, Tom shares:

*What the students did to him as a supply teacher

*What an exhausted colleague did when the next class was arriving

*And why - when he couldn’t see the wood for the trees - Tom went to see the trees… in the wood.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:35 Do you think you’re better under pressure?
06:00 When was the worst pressure that you’ve ever felt?
07:56 Differentiating manageable pressure from depleting pressure
09:36 Emotions management and support
14:03 Energy shift within your body
15:51 Listening to your instincts
17:27 Pressure spike factors
22:26 The uniqueness of teaching
26:23 Insight 1: Lessons learned
29:57 Teacher-to-teacher pressure Advice
36:45 Learning how to be positive
41:43 Guiding leadership while preserving legacy
46:17 Insight 2: Lessons learned 
52:27 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?
55:48 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Lara Milward, a NeuroLeadership Coach and athlete who has co-founded businesses in Leadership and Fitness.  She has worked in gender equality with Shine for Women and is a mentor for Resurgo. The official coach of Virgin’s Strive Challenge, Lara practises what she preaches - moving every day to challenge both mental and physical muscle and believes we all need to treat our mental muscle just like our physical muscle; giving it challenge, fuel, rest and recovery.

In our conversation, Lara shares...

• The power of a starting gun,
• What happened when she tried her first mountain climb up the Matterhorn
• And what she learnt about herself from witnessing her child in intensive care
  

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:43 What does Pressure mean to you now?
06:41 At Six: Your First Taste of Deliberate Performance?
07:45 Childhood Performance Blend: Skill Transfer & Curiosity
09:02 Balancing Pressure and Confidence: Coaching Dynamics
15:28 Endurance Athlete's Recipe for Success: Ingredients and Practice
20:50 Not good enough? - “Get better!”
26:46 Insight 1: Lessons learned
28:14 What was the worst Pressure you’ve ever been under?
33:39 What are the signs when you feel it’s heading towards too much?
37:33 Pressure: Shifting Perspectives on Control and Heartfelt Concern
42:52 Insight 2: Lessons learned
44:36 Recency,  Frequency = Fluency
47:02 What would be two things you would pass forward to people to better manage that pressure?
53:53 Outro