73: The Ops Leader's Guide to Projecting Confidence Under Pressure

Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/73.

A client reached out, caught off guard by her boss’s unexpected invitation for coffee the next morning. Out of the blue. No details, no hints.

This was way out of the ordinary. In years working together, he'd never suggested such an informal meet-up. And their relationship had seen its share of tense moments.

I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. She's used to all manner of tough challenges, but this threw her off balance. Her mind was racing: Why the sudden interest? Why is he being so vague? Is this bad news? Or is it something completely different?

How do you prepare when you don't know what you're walking into?

In this episode, I'll share what helped her move past worst-case scenarios and find confidence for that coffee meeting. 

Transcript

A client reached out, caught off guard by her boss’s unexpected invitation for coffee the next morning. Out of the blue. No details, no hints.

This was way out of the ordinary. In years working together, he'd never suggested such an informal meet-up. And their relationship had seen its share of tense moments.

I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. She's used to all manner of tough challenges, but this threw her off balance. Her mind was racing: Why the sudden interest? Why is he being so vague? Is this bad news? Or is it something completely different?

How do you prepare when you don't know what you're walking into?

In this episode, I'll share what helped her move past worst-case scenarios and find confidence for that coffee meeting. Find the full transcript at yourfuturerealized.com/73.

Hey Ops Leaders,

Balancing Scenarios: Not Just Worst-Case Thinking

It's natural to imagine worst-case scenarios when something unexpected happens. This is especially true if you’re the type to plan ahead for every possibility. As an ops leader, you're used to spotting problems before they happen.

But here's a key: Notice where you're giving too much attention to negative outcomes. Try to balance it by considering promising possibilities as well.

As my client started to name the other possibilities beyond the worst-cases, her tension began to ease.

Building Self-Trust: The Bird on a Branch

We talked about building self-trust. There's a saying about a bird on a branch. The bird isn’t afraid of the branch breaking because it trusts its wings. 

You can learn to trust your abilities and experience in the same way. You are in your position for a reason. You've dealt with loads of problems before. You've had difficult conversations, faced conflicts and handled seemingly unsolvable issues, right? And you've always come out on the other side. 

In our conversation, it helped her to remember that she has the skills, knowledge and resources to handle whatever comes her way.

Practical Preparation: Centering Yourself

We also discussed some practical steps she could take to prepare for the meeting. She knew getting in a quick workout early would boost her confidence. For others, it might be a short walk outside, deep breaths, journaling, or listening to energizing music. You know what works for you. 

She chose what would work best to center herself before the meeting. It’s just like preparing for a high-stakes presentation or a critical review.

Visualization: Stepping into Your Best Self

Finally, we talked about visualizing how she wanted to enter that meeting. She focused on feeling calm, confident, positive, and collaborative. This often means making eye contact, speaking clearly, listening closely, and being curious. It can also mean focusing on the details of what you’re wearing, how you carry yourself, and the tone and tempo of your voice.

The more detailed you make your visualization, the more real it becomes to your mind. This shapes your actual behavior when the moment arrives.

Bringing It All Together

By balancing her thoughts, trusting herself, preparing practically, and visualizing what it would take to feel good at the end of the meeting, my client set herself up for success. She felt ready to walk into that meeting as her best self, ready for whatever the conversation might bring.

When you take the time to bring that same readiness to your personal interactions, you’ll be at your best no matter what you’re up against.

Today I’ll leave you with this question: How can you start giving equal attention to empowering possibilities in your work and your life, especially when you’re facing the unknown?

Give it a try, see how it helps you, and let me know how it goes.

If you liked this episode, check out episode 40, ‘How Operations Execs Make Mindfulness Their Secret Weapon’. You’ll find it at yourfuturerealized.com/40.

You can’t stop the chaos, but you can change the game.