Eggs will harden in hot water under pressure.
Potatoes will soften under the same conditions.
Leaders are wise to understand there is an interaction between people and environmental conditions. Some people become better and more capable under stress. Others break down. Some organizations use this as a selection strategy for the individuals and teams they want to retain.
Over time I’ve tried to predict which people will handle stress in a way they come out more capable on the far side. My success record is quite poor. Some people who I judged as mushy potatoes rose to challenges magnificently. Others I thought would surely win through collapsed in heaps of misery.
The best strategy is to have high expectations — and monitor, encourage, adjust work loads where you can.
