F Manage Yourself 69 "You know all the sport psychology stuff you do with ath- letes? Well, I did it all with myself. In the beginning it was just about learning things like the Jacobsen technique and how to re- lax, then the whole self-talk area and that kind of thing. It really evolved over the years to the point where I used imagery, imag- ing for myself how I was going to coach that day in training. Every day in the car on my way to the pool, I would imagine how I wanted to be that day and what I wanted my face to look like, how I wanted my voice to sound, and how I wanted the athletes to respond to me. It was one of the skills I used." Debbie was quick to point out that the impact of pressure doesn't suddenly go away. That's where humor and your rela- tionship with your people can carry the day. "The athletes used to tease me because at every competition I'd get this bright red rash up my neck to my chin, so I started wearing turtlenecks and track suits. It was a sort of joke. They'd look to see if I had my rash and then say, `Oh, we're okay, Debbie's got her rash, we'd worry if you didn't!'" How important is this ability to self-manage in today's high-paced work environment? From the studies on the impact of negative, out-of-control bosses on employee retention to re- search on burnout, there's evidence that the boss's ability to be human and aware and not act out feelings is critical. The business world, like the world of competitive sports, can be a pressure cooker. Competition can bring out the worst in anyone. Good coaches are aware coaches, and aware coaches are those who continually strive to be better. Managers need to be able to manage not just their performers, but more important, themselves: their expectations, their personal tendencies, their arousal level--all of which directly impact their ability to read the situation, make good decisions, communicate clearly and ef- fectively, and react appropriately. Ironically, leaders choke as often as their performers. Success comes down to learning to manage what is happening on the American Management Association · www.amanet.org