In the world of leadership and high-stakes communication, no phrase is more relevant than this one:
“The going gets tough, the tough get going.”
This isn’t just a motivational quote; it’s a fundamental principle of presence. Achieving true influence is a discipline that demands rigor, awareness and the courage to consciously choose your response, especially when pressure mounts.
I have the privilege of seeing brilliant individuals make incredible progress. They move from old habits of tension to a new, open, and confident set of skills. They soar in their careers. And then, they hit a ceiling.
It might be in a meeting where they feel outnumbered or a negotiation with a difficult client. Suddenly, that feeling of being threatened creeps in, and the body’s defensive state takes over. I saw it just this week when a client’s old stress patterns returned instantly: the fists clenched, the hands disappeared, and the breath stopped, blocking the voice.
This is the critical moment where our work truly begins. Regressing to old patterns isn’t a failure; it’s a signal to consciously deploy the skills you have so diligently practised. When you feel that regression, it’s time to move from reaction to command by deploying an intentional, physical toolkit.
I must be clear: the journey to mastering your presence is not a smooth, linear path. You will improve, hit a ceiling, and regress slightly. The goal is not to avoid these dips. The goal is to ensure that with each challenge, you never regress to your original baseline. Each dip, when met with conscious skill, solidifies your new, higher standard of performance.
This game requires strength, but that strength isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build, one high-stakes moment at a time.
If you would like to hear that from another horse’s mouth, here is Craig McRae’s interview, coach of Collingwood.
GO PIES!!!
Now, go and conquer.
