UPSHIFT
Turning Pressure Into Performance and Crisis Into Creativity
by Ben Ramalingam
How to foster positive responses to stress.
Ramalingam, a specialist in international crisis management and executive director of the United Kingdom Humanitarian Innovation Hub, draws on research in neuroscience and psychology, as well as his own experiences, to offer practical advice on how to respond to stress and pressure. “With too little stress and pressure,” he asserts, “we become disengaged, de-motivated, and unfulfilled.” On the other hand, moments of crisis may inspire us “to transcend our limitations, and to overcome the inertia of habits, the weight of accepted practices, and the thick treacle of institutional memory.” He counters the assumption “that stress and pressure kill performance and creativity” by examining many real-life examples—from Capt. Chesley Sullenberger to Greta Thunberg—to show “how there are in fact liberating opportunities to be found even in the most extreme of conditions.” Ramalingam identifies three traits that foster creativity under stress: mental attitude (“our subjective assessment of whether something is a threat or a challenge”); our ability to engage in original thinking; and our having a sense of purpose. He further identifies six styles of “upshifting”: Challengers explore problems to look for “novel adaptations to the new reality rather than expecting reality to adapt to their beliefs.” Crafters, such as Thomas Edison, bring creativity and skill to develop practical solutions to problems. Connectors forge networks to provide support and insight. Combiners build bridges between disciplines and translate different areas of knowledge. Corroborators pose questions, explore approaches, and assess the consequences of actions. Conductors bring the skills of orchestra leaders to problem-solving in areas beyond music by instilling courage, creating space to improvise, and sharing a sense of the big picture. Ramalingam is encouraging throughout the book, urging readers to reframe problems and believe in their own innate abilities to enact change.
A reassuring guide to empowerment.