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Watched someone brilliant completely freeze up last week
Here's what could have changed that moment (and yours too)
Jacqueline Twillie
July 01, 2025
I was in a leadership meeting last week watching someone I respect completely freeze up during what should have been their moment to shine.
This person is brilliant, prepared, knows their stuff inside and out. But when all eyes were on them, something just... shut down.
It got me thinking about what separates people who thrive under pressure from those who don't. Turns out, it's not what most of us think.
Here's what I learned:
When you're stressed, your breathing gets shallow. Shallow breathing signals your nervous system that you're in danger, which makes clear thinking nearly impossible. It's a cycle that kills performance.
But there's a simple way to break it.
Try this before your next important meeting:
- Cyclic sighing - Take a normal breath in, then a second smaller breath in through your nose to fill your lungs completely. Then exhale slowly through your mouth. Do this 2-3 times.
- The 2pm reset - Set a daily reminder for 2pm (or whenever your energy typically dips). Take one minute to slow your breathing down. Just slower, deeper breaths for 60 seconds.
When to use it:
Why it works:
Slowing your breath literally improves decision-making under pressure. It activates your parasympathetic nervous system - the part that handles "rest and digest" instead of "fight or flight."
I've started using this before difficult conversations, client calls, and anytime I need to think clearly under pressure. The difference is noticeable.
This isn't about becoming zen or meditation practice. It's about having a performance tool in your back pocket when you need it most.
The leaders who perform consistently well? They usually have techniques like this that others don't know about.
Talk soon,
Jacqueline
