Performing Under Pressure: Four Shared Lessons Between Sport & Finance
High performance in finance isn’t optional – it’s expected. Whether managing complex portfolios, making time-critical decisions, or leading under pressure, the demands are high and constant. But meeting those demands over the long haul requires more than technical skill – it requires psychological resilience and a supportive environment.
At Hintsa Performance, we’ve worked across elite sport – from Formula 1 to Premier League football. Hintsa-supported Formula 1 drivers have won 19 World Drivers’ Championships and 92% of all races over the past twelve seasons. In these arenas, performance under pressure is a daily reality.
Increasingly, we’re seeing fascinating parallels with the finance sector, where many firms are already pioneering thoughtful approaches to mental performance and wellbeing.
This isn’t about sport teaching finance how it’s done. It’s about exploring shared challenges, and exchanging insights between two high-pressure arenas. There are valuable lessons we can learn from those who perform under extreme pressure day in day out, as illustrated in this New York Times article I contributed to that explores how to focus like a Formula 1 driver.
Four shared lessons we’ve seen resonate
1. Mental performance deserves structure
In both fields, decision quality drops under fatigue. High-performing individuals and teams don’t leave focus and recovery to chance – they build habits, rhythms, and systems that support sustained thinking under pressure.
2. Language shapes culture
The words leaders use – whether in a locker room or a trading floor – matter. We’ve seen positive change when firms move away from “always-on” bravado and instead foster language around sustainable excellence, where admitting tiredness is seen as responsible, not weak.
3. Systems beat willpower
No athlete performs at their best without the right support. The same applies in finance. When organisations normalise coaching, psychological safety, and protected time for recovery, individuals are better able to meet the demands of their role – without burning out.
4. Whole humans perform better
High performance isn’t separate from wellbeing – it’s built on it. The most forward-thinking teams support people beyond their job title, recognising that healthy, motivated individuals are more capable, creative, and resilient.
What’s most exciting isn’t that sport has all the answers – but that we’re seeing a shared appetite for better ways to perform and lead under pressure. The finance sector is doing impressive work in this space, and the opportunity lies in bringing together insights from different fields to shape environments where people can thrive.
Want to learn how our tailored programs can enhance your team’s sustainable performance? Get in touch – we’d love to talk.
Hintsa Performance works with elite professionals in finance, applying performance psychology principles developed in Formula 1 and other high-performance sports. Learn more about our performance solutions for businesses.
