NFL kicker Brett Maher retires in 2024Brett MaherThe record for most field goals made over 60 yards in a single season (recently broken) and the record for most extra points missed in a single game: During his 10 years as a professional player, he made 79.9% of his field goals and 95.5% of his extra points. Nonetheless, he was released by 12 teams.
He built his career under extreme pressure. He went through ups and downs and received both criticism and praise. What can we learn from someone who has been considered both the best and the worst in his field on multiple occasions?
As a researcher and educator, I study how leaders manage stress and respond to success and failure. It was at this point that I was drawn to Maher. It seemed like a great case study in how to stay calm, focused and resilient among the thousands of people, including teammates, owners and fans, standing in an NFL stadium waiting and watching for him to do his job perfectly. What I learned from interviewing Maher is that many of the strategies he used, including those passed down by coaches and sports psychologists, can easily be applied to those of us who strive to perform under pressure in a variety of work environments.
Ignore the noise.
Early in his career, Maher found himself overly concerned about the reactions of audiences and critics. The cheers that came out when he made a field goal or extra point and the positive feedback about his overall performance gave him confidence. But disappointing laments and post-game criticism made him frustrated. In both cases, his mind became obsessed with the results themselves, rather than the practice and effort he put in, or the potential for progress.
To see the article until the end
Sign up for a paid membership.
Your first month is free!
Copyright Ⓒ Harvard Business Review Korea. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use of AI learning are prohibited.
Worth a look
