Think Fast! 5 Ways to Perform Under Pressure

Find an "Anchor"

"If you start to get anxious, a simple gesture, or 'anchor,' can bring you back into focus. Think of a tennis player intently bouncing the ball before she serves. The bouncing has nothing to do with the serve; it has to do with mental preparation. To find an anchor, think about what you do when you are collected and confident. Perhaps you roll your shoulders back or straighten your spine. Do that one thing whenever you're agitated or distracted, and it'll help turn on the lights in your brain."

—Peter Meyers, communication consultant and coauthor of As We Speak: How to Make Your Point and Have It Stick