Why Some People Are Clutch
When we think of a clutch performance, we often imagine a sports setting where an athlete shows up well under extreme pressure.
But clutch performance isn’t reserved for sports. It occurs in organizations and teams as well.
The idea of being “clutch” refers to any person who performs exceptionally well under pressure or in high-stakes moments. A clutch performer is someone who stays calm, focused, and delivers their best performance when everything is on the line.
In the workplace, it points to a team member who has the ability to come through when others would likely falter.
Leaders and coaches ask the same question: What makes some performers clutch while most others never find that gear? Research on the issue provides a few clues.
Clutch players and team members tend to have high confidence in their skills, which gives them a sense of control over unfolding situations. They trust their talents, past experiences, and preparation, which gives them an edge in big moments.
Those who perform superbly in the clutch also have a heightened focus that blocks out distractions. They practice under duress and sharpen their concentration to the point of hyper-focus, which they call upon when needed.
Not surprisingly, clutch performers regulate their emotions in a very specific way. They channel any anxiety they feel and turn it into excitement.
They use this excitement to motivate themselves to show up big in big moments. Talk to a clutch performer, and they can’t wait for the high-stakes situation because they have talked themselves into feeling exhilarated.
But of the many factors that contribute to clutch performance, perhaps none is as important as how top performers practice. They challenge themselves in practice by creating an environment as close to high pressure as is possible.
They get ready for the big moments by practicing maneuvers that replicate high-pressure situations. When the big moment arrives, they have experienced something like it in practice and so are more comfortable with performing at the highest level.
Everyone would like to perform in the clutch, but only a few players and team members are willing to do what it takes to prepare themselves for the moment.
The next time you see a clutch performance, think of all the work that went into that elevated showing. Clutch doesn’t reside in people. Clutch is the outcome of a highly committed performer willing to do what it takes.
I like the idea of football teams rehearsing with very loud crowd noise pumped in to their practice arena. There are countless ways for us to engage in the same kind of thing.
I wonder how many people on shark tank rehearse the tough questions coming at them in a rapid fire sequence?
I listened to a podcast with an Olympic silver medalist in Archery this weekend. It's a sport of extreme precision and in tournaments there is time pressure, changing conditions, and archers in very close proximity to other each other. Clutch! Among the things he talked about was breaking the shot down into the sub-skills and practicing to execute each consistently. Two other things I found interesting: they'd shoot at relatively close range with no target to focus on form (get the mind off the outcome) and would practice in both tournament conditions (noise, etc) and worst case scenarios. For example, if there was a problem with a bow, instead of using a back-up bow (which one rarely practiced with and would cost time to grab in a tournament) they'd practice with bows from other teammates. This had the added benefit of the team knowing each other's archery incredibly well so they could give better feedback on adjustments due to conditions. Reminded me of "he who sweats more in training bleeds less in battle"