Two Mindsets to address Pressure

There is a natural pressure that comes when you work with people. It is just part of the dynamics of interacting and working in coordination with others.

If you took a moment right now, you probably could identify a few pressures you feel within your team. 

For most of us, eliminating the pressure is not possible. The question becomes, “what do I do with pressure?”

When your team feels pressure, there are two options:

• Direct the pressure outward

• Direct the pressure inward

Directing the pressure outward is best illustrated by a Pineapple 🍍. A Pineapple is tough on the outside. It is corse and requires some effort to get inside. Once you get to the center of a Pineapple, it is quite soft.

Directing the pressure inward is best illustrated by a Peach 🍑. A Peach is very soft and flexible on the outside. However the core of a peach is tough! The center of a peach is a pit that is tough.

When you consider the environment you volunteer or lead within - is it more of a Peach or a Pineapple?

When you have a pineapple mindset you are easy on yourself and make it difficult for others. When you have a peach mindset, you are tough on yourself to make it easy for others.

Here are a few characteristics of these mindsets:

🍍A Pineapple says, “They should…”

🍑A Peach says, “I/We should…”

🍍A Pineapple has Rules that are applied to others

🍑A Peach has Core Truths and Values to lead us

🍍A Pineapple protects the insiders

🍑A Peach provides stability for outsiders

🍍A Pineapple says, “success has earned us…"

🍑A Peach says, “success has made us accountable for…”

You cannot eliminate pressure, but you can decide where you direct it.