This is the original online performance under pressure course. This course has been replaced with the revised and updated Frontline Performance course. Over 2000 high pressure professionals have already completed the online Performance Course. The course discusses the psychology of pressure and how it can both positively and negatively affect our ability to perform. We all need a certain level of pressure to make the right decisions, work effectively in teams and carry out complex tasks. The course is based on a unique model of "Owning the Pressure" as described in my book Peak Performance. The online course gives you access to 12 video presentations and 6 downloadable documents and exercises. No assessment is required. We have also created a glossary of performance terminology to support learning and understanding. A Performance Under Pressure CPD certificate is awarded on completion of the course.

  • 1. Under Pressure – What pressures affect our performance. Flow, frazzle and freezing. How we make decisions and why we behave the way we do under pressure. How fatigue, the environment and cognitive biases can compromise performance. How to own the pressure.

  • 2. The Pressure Pump - Your organisation's culture, leadership and selection processes

  • 3. Pressure control – Owning the pressure through communication, cooperative teamwork, frontline leadership and cognitive aids – checklists, guidelines and action cards.

  • 4. Pressure testing – Training ourselves and our teams for performance under pressure – drilling, simulation, mental rehearsal, stress inoculation and personal preparation.

  • 5. Pressure relief valves – Techniques to regain personal composure and situational control.

Student reviews

5 star rating

Tremendous

Kenneth Evans

This is my first foray into this subject area in terms of formal education. I found all the content to be tremendously relevant and applicable to the 20 yea...

Read More

This is my first foray into this subject area in terms of formal education. I found all the content to be tremendously relevant and applicable to the 20 years of prehospital care and military service I have undertaken to this point. I am keen to bring this course to Canada. I had previously purchased the book which I found to be a detailed companion to the online course.

Read Less
5 star rating

Extremely applicable to work

Shane Devlin

I work as a paramedic in rural Ireland and found the book and course fascinating. I have since employed some of these techniques when I noticed myself going ...

Read More

I work as a paramedic in rural Ireland and found the book and course fascinating. I have since employed some of these techniques when I noticed myself going into 'frazzle' and it has brought me back to regain control of the call. Very enjoyable, interesting and most of all practical course.

Read Less
5 star rating

Great course

Charlotte Ross

A great course, that's easy to follow and understand without the need to have experience in high pressure situations. Delivered brilliantly by Stephen using ...

Read More

A great course, that's easy to follow and understand without the need to have experience in high pressure situations. Delivered brilliantly by Stephen using his own experience, the science behind how we perform under pressure with insights into high performance culture in top performing teams.

Read Less
5 star rating

Excellent overview of peak performance management

John Jones

I am an experienced paramedic working in an NHS ambulance service and saw this course advertised on the College of Paramedics website. I have not read the a...

Read More

I am an experienced paramedic working in an NHS ambulance service and saw this course advertised on the College of Paramedics website. I have not read the accompanying book "Peak Performance Under Pressure" but enjoyed the online course, which was well structured and professionally presented. There are a handful of spelling and grammatical errors in the accompanying PDF documents, but this are minor. I have already recommended this online course to colleagues.

Read Less
5 star rating

Highly suggested course to take.

ERIKA PANARO

I have been told about this course by my ATACC friends and I really enjoyed navigating through it. It is concise but there are many useful information and my...

Read More

I have been told about this course by my ATACC friends and I really enjoyed navigating through it. It is concise but there are many useful information and my next step will be reading the book.

Read Less
5 star rating

Great Course

Sean Potts

Brilliantly delivered, great update and refresher on how we should be dealing with pressure. I can't recommend this enough

Brilliantly delivered, great update and refresher on how we should be dealing with pressure. I can't recommend this enough

Read Less
5 star rating

Exceptional CPD

David Bradley

Brings the concepts of the book to life and reinforces them in an easy to understand manner. Best CPD I have done this year.

Brings the concepts of the book to life and reinforces them in an easy to understand manner. Best CPD I have done this year.

Read Less
5 star rating

Performance Under Pressure

Darren Monaghan

Stephen . This is an absolutely awesome course . From a personal aspect so benefical and from a service aspect highlights aspects we need to work on to con...

Read More

Stephen . This is an absolutely awesome course . From a personal aspect so benefical and from a service aspect highlights aspects we need to work on to continue to improve to ensure the team delivers the best possible outcomes for patients . Thank you for creating this course !

Read Less
5 star rating

A must for those seeking to achieve optimal individual an...

Jonny Gallier

Excellent online course for any professional aspiring to improve their personal or teams performance under pressure. A structured mix of videos and exercises...

Read More

Excellent online course for any professional aspiring to improve their personal or teams performance under pressure. A structured mix of videos and exercises detail the psychological and emotional responses created by pressure helping one to understand individual's behaviour. The course teaches how methods such as cognitive aids, communication, training, leadership and teamwork can be used to 'own the pressure'. Highly informative and enjoyable course, a must for those working in high pressure situations.

Read Less
5 star rating

Thoughts

Andy Rae

I am finding the course, very interesting, eye opening and informative. would highly recommend it

I am finding the course, very interesting, eye opening and informative. would highly recommend it

Read Less
5 star rating

Brilliant

Fiona Mckern

Fantastic content and format - will do it again!!

Fantastic content and format - will do it again!!

Read Less
5 star rating

Great course

Kirsty Aitchison

I found this course really interesting and useful. The online layout was good and very clearly presented.

I found this course really interesting and useful. The online layout was good and very clearly presented.

Read Less

Peak Performance book

This course is based on the content of Peak Performance. In his book Stephen discusses the psychology of pressure and how it can both positively and negatively affect our ability to perform. We all need a certain level of pressure to make the right decisions, work effectively in teams and carry out complex tasks. The book is based on a unique model of "Owning the Pressure". • The Pressure Pump is your organisation's culture, leadership and selection processes • Pressure Testing is how we train and prepare ourselves for high performance - drilling, simulating, stress inoculation, teamwork and communication • Pressure Control is all about cognitive aids, checklists and equipment management • Pressure relief valves are the tools we can use to regain situational control and personal composure. The book includes examples of high performance systems and techniques used by helicopter medical professionals, mountain rescuers, search and rescue paramedics, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force pilots.this area to describe the image or provide supporting information.

Dr Stephen Hearns

MBChB FRCEM FRCS FRCP FRGS DIMC DRTM

Stephen is a consultant in emergency and aeromedical retrieval medicine. He has been a Scottish mountain rescue team member for over 20 years and has acted as medical officer on 7 international expeditions in mountain, desert, jungle and arctic environments. He established the first expedition medicine course in the UK. Based on his experiences of performing under pressure in these environments, Stephen's book, Peak Performance, was published in 2019. Stephen is an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the University of Glasgow and led the team establishing the Diploma in retrieval and transfer medicine for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Stephen is attracted to the challenges of emergency medicine in demanding remote environments with limited resources. Stephen’s main interest is optimising team performance in high pressure situations. He researches, writes and speaks on both of these topics and provides advice to a wide range of commercial and government organisations. Stephen is a Fellow of The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, The Royal College of Surgeons, The Royal College of Physicians and The Royal Geographical Society.

High Performance Team Licenses

Many organisations are keen to train their full team in the skills required to perform under pressure. We can arrange substantial discounts for team course licenses. Please email us to discuss your requirements.

Course content

Click headings for preview