When the pressure’s on, who do you turn to for guidance? I was fortunate to learn from some of the best moderating a recent Hacking HR panel on peak performance.

Allyson Robinson of Cruise emphasised the importance of intentionality – knowing when to push teams to their limits, and then to let them recharge. As a military veteran, she’s shifted her mindset to recognize rest as critical work.

At the Air Force’s advanced R&D lab, Terrance Cooley, PMP, SPHR builds world-class teams through trust and accountability. He shared how they’ve streamlined hiring to 190 people in just 3 months through a human-centred approach.

Jess Goldberg of Columbia University stressed facilitating psychological safety to encourage risk-taking, which is vital for innovation. Separating behaviours from individuals during feedback keeps teams progressing.

Insights from Khalil Zafar on the IT sectors of South Asia and Pakistan provided global context. Long hours take their toll without work-life balance support from leaders.

Anna Mamalaki, MA,SHRM-SCP, ACC, CMP(Prosci) advised analysing each department’s alignment with core goals to pinpoint gaps. Embracing AI can reduce workload pressures when used strategically.

Their wisdom on defining pressure, fostering cultures of excellence, and optimising team dynamics provided actionable strategies for any leader facing tough times. Well worth getting up at 3am.

I want to sincerely thank this outstanding group of panellists for sharing their invaluable insights – many more than I noted above. Their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience created an enlightening discussion that left me feeling motivated and equipped to help more teams thrive, even in challenging environments.

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