A Cut Above the RestSample

Smiling Under Pressure

Nehemiah was cupbearer to the king – it was his responsibility to fill the king's cup with wine and serve him personally – a very responsible job, given the fact that he sometimes would have to taste the wine in order to guard the king's life from potential assassins. But despite the weight of such a heavy mission and risky task, Nehemiah was required to maintain a pleasant countenance and a delightful demeanour always. The king's presence should never be tainted by a poor presentation or a casual approach or a sad countenance. It always demanded the most graceful bearing, which will never give away the pressure or fear behind the assignment– this is ‘smiling under pressure’.

Let’s examine our professional lives. How do we begin our work week? Do we frown on Monday mornings or do we look forward to it eagerly? How do we respond when a task is thrust in our direction just as we are about to wrap up our week and head out early on a Friday evening? Do we get upset when our boss insists on deferring our much-planned vacation because a project deadline is fast approaching? I have often been guilty of this. Many a Monday morning has had a slow start, many a task has been accepted with reluctance, many a project has been passed over because it didn’t have the takeaway I was interested in. But life has taught me that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well and with a smile, of course.

The business environment is a highly dynamic one and there are many moving parts to it. Unplanned work, last-minute requests, unreasonable bosses, uncooperative colleagues and shoestring budgets are commonplace in every organisation. A gloomy face isn’t going to help anything. On the contrary, a cheerful face can brighten up a team, lighten the burden and speed up the game. Psychologists say smiling is therapeutic to oneself. So, go ahead and make it a habit to ‘smile under pressure’, and soon you will notice what a difference it makes to your team, your workplace and your overall work output.

Dear Lord, remind me always to maintain a cheerful countenance despite the weight of my responsibilities. Teach me to smile under pressure.