EP 147 - Sian Beilock - Perform Better Under Pressure

How often do you choke under pressure? Sweaty palms, brain blanks, heart going a million miles an hour...we’ve all been there. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid the panic and crush the performance next time you’re in the spotlight.

Sian Leah Beilock became the 8th president of Barnard College at Columbia University in July, 2017. A cognitive scientist by training, she previously spent twelve years at the University of Chicago as the Professor of Psychology, specializing in how children and adults learn and perform at their best, especially under stress. In her research on the subject, Beilock explores the brain and body factors that influence skill learning and performance, as well as how simple psychological strategies can be used to ensure success in high-stakes situations ranging from test-taking and public speaking to athletics. She has published more than 100 papers and received numerous prestigious awards for her work. Alongside her other writing, President Beilock is the author of two books that have been published in more than a dozen languages, and her 2017 TED talk has been viewed over 2 million times. 

On this episode of the Abundantly Clear podcast, Malorie and Sian cover why we choke under pressure and fail to perform our best (and how to stop doing it), rethinking the distractions in our world and allocating our resources more effectively, and finding balance between our many identities. Listen in for the best advice on acing your next big presentation.

You’ll Learn  

What you can do to focus your mind and body before a high-stakes performance, whatever it may be, in order to do your actual best Why taking a break and stepping away is biologically an important step in getting things done How to make the practice of being self-conscious a regular step in preparing for a big meeting, speech or task   And much more!

Favorite Quote

“If you take anything from my work, it's that we're not born chokers or thrivers. Like it's something you can learn, you can learn to perform better, and you need a toolbox of techniques. And so what we've been doing in my research is studying actually what happens in the brain when you use a particular technique and high pressure situation, how that works and how we can implement them regardless of where you are, whether it's taking a test or giving a talk or doing a concert piano performance, and I think, you know, there's always more work to do there until we don't have stressful situations, which doesn't seem to be like it's going to happen anytime soon.”

 - Sian Beilock

Connect with Sian:

Twitter  Sianbeilock.com  Instagram   Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To Book

How to get involved

Malorie has become an expert in helping people remove their mindset blocks, so they can experience the growth in their business and decrease in stress they desire. Check the site to learn more, download a freebie and stay connected.

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