The Most Important Lesson From A Combat Leader: Breathe

I just finished reading, “In Extremis Leadership, Leading As If Your Life Depended On It,” written by Tom Kolditz, a West Point Professor. I wanted to pass along a simple tactic that everyone can implement immediately to help improve their performance in times of stress and panic. According to Mr.Kolditz taking a deep breath and maintaining a pattern of deep and slow respiration is the single most important step to gain control of yourself when you need to move forward and act under stress. You begin by taking a full deep breath bringing the air under pressure in your lungs and exhale slowly with the air still under pressure. You then continue the process until you have reached a state of relaxation. Make this a habit when you experience fear or anxiety and you’ll be on your way to Extremis Leadership.