Pressure changes the way you think, speak and behave.
Pressure Reveals, from 7 Skills to impress, is a free article published twice a week. Each one looks at the subconscious habits of high performers and gives you practical ways to be at your most inspiring and capable when the pressure is on.
Pressure Reveals is written by Mark Sapsford. Mark grew up in a violent home, where he learned early to read people and keep calm when things were tense. He went on to become a police firearms commander in charge of hostage and siege situations, and trained police negotiators in persuasive language. He has since worked as a mind coach in elite sport, and has coached athletes, teams, leaders, parents and teachers.
Latest from Pressure Reveals
-
Driven: Why Stallone Would Rather Bury Rocky Than Sell It
He wrote himself a way in, turned down the money and fought for the lead. Underneath it all was a much older motivation.
-
J.K. Rowling: The Tell
The word that explains why J.K. Rowling won’t back down.
-
Tom Cruise, Failure and the Real Secret of Confidence and Success
His new film flopped at the box office. What he said beforehand shows us how to handle any setback.
-
Premier Managers Revealed: Matchweek 5
An inspiration league table. Which managers are best at getting their players to perform? Matchweek 5.
-
Premier Managers Revealed: Matchweek 4
An inspiration league table. Which managers are best at getting their players to perform? Matchweek 4.
-
What the US Open’s Biggest Names Said Under Pressure, and What You Can Learn
Six practical lessons in keeping your confidence, handling disappointment and choosing your next step when the pressure is on.
What you’ll find in Pressure Reveals
In each article, Mark takes a real moment from sport, leadership, coaching, teaching or family life and examines the language and behaviour that reveal what was happening beneath the surface.
- A real moment involving genuine pressure with visible consequences.
- The words and behaviour that unmask subconscious thought patterns.
- A practical idea you can use next time the pressure is on.
You’ll see how pressure changes people’s capability, what confident performers do differently, and what you can take into your own demanding moments.
Pressure Reveals is written for…
- Parents who want to raise confident, capable children.
- Coaches who want to bring out the best in their athletes.
- Teachers who want to inspire rather than simply instruct.
- Leaders who want to stay composed and inspire others under pressure.
- Anyone who wants to learn how to bring their best to pressure moments.
It is for people who want to recognise these patterns more clearly and make better choices when the pressure is real.
What readers say
“One of the most interesting aspects of The 7 Skills to impress™ is Mark’s ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a way that is accessible and engaging. He uses analogies, exciting stories, and fascinating real-life examples to illustrate his points, making this work informative, practical and entertaining.”
Mark O’
Sales Director
“Your posts are genuinely interesting and easy to read. You bring a fresh perspective to familiar subjects and find angles that make you see them differently. Your analysis offers a fascinating way to understand performance.”
Emma H
via X
“An outstanding piece and a brilliant reminder that the language people use often reveals the mindset behind their performance. One of the most insightful analyses I’ve read on pressure, confidence and elite competition.”
Will GS
Intelligence Analyst