It’s always a good question.
What problem does this solve?
In this case, what problem does Switch Thinking solve?
Here it is
Many people underperform in moments that matter.
It could be in an exam, presentation or on the sporting field.
The irony is that it is often not a case of capability.
You can prepare and hit a golf ball beautifully on the driving range for example.
But when you step foot on the golf course you hit the first ball out of bounds.
This gap cannot be physical as you are the same person, using the same clubs, hitting the same ball.
It must be in your mind?
Or more specifically – your thinking.
In Switch Thinking there are two modes of thinking based on the latest brain networks.
Box Mode which is structured, rational, concrete (like a box).
It’s stable, comfortable and predictable.
Then there is what I call Ball Mode.
This is fun, playful and imaginative (just like a ball).
it can be uncertain, risky but helps you make big leaps.
So when you are facing an important moment you might think that pressure makes you rise to the occasion.
However, in reality, pressure usually makes us drill down, not step up.
The surprising pattern is this:
Under pressure, people don’t switch modes — they double down on the one they’re already in.
And that’s often the real problem.
Pressure Narrows Thinking
When pressure increases, the brain shifts into protection mode. The nervous system becomes more alert, more vigilant, more focused on avoiding mistakes. This is useful if you’re crossing a busy road or responding to immediate danger — but it’s far less helpful when you need to think clearly, creatively, or humanly.
In Box Mode, pressure pushes us deeper into Box Mode:
- More analysis
- More control
- More checking
- More rules
- More “don’t get this wrong” thinking
People under Box-Mode pressure often say things like:
- “I just need to be more logical.”
- “I’ll stick to the plan.”
- “I can’t afford to experiment now.”
The thinking becomes tighter, narrower, and more rigid — exactly when flexibility would help most.
In Ball Mode, pressure has the opposite but equally problematic effect:
- More emotion
- More intuition
- More urgency
- More improvisation
- More reacting
People under Ball-Mode pressure might say:
- “I’ll just go with my gut.”
- “I need to feel confident.”
- “I’ll wing it.”
The result can be scattered, unfocused, or overly emotional thinking — again, not ideal when the moment really counts.
The Hidden Trap: More of the Same
The key insight is this:
Pressure doesn’t usually make us better. It makes us more of what we already are.
And because most people don’t consciously switch their thinking, they simply push harder inside the same mode — hoping effort will solve what is actually a mode mismatch.
This explains a common experience:
- You prepare well, but under pressure you become stiff.
- You’re creative and expressive, but under pressure you lose clarity.
- You’re confident in practice, but different in the moment.
You’re the same person.
Same skills.
Same experience.
But a different thinking mode is running the show.
The Switch That Changes Everything
This is where Switch Thinking becomes powerful.
Instead of trying harder, you switch modes.
If pressure has pushed you too far into Box Mode, the switch is not “calm down and analyse more” — it’s often:
- Switch to Ball Mode
- Broaden perspective
- Reconnect with purpose, emotion, or imagination
- Loosen control just enough to breathe again
If pressure has pushed you too far into Ball Mode, the switch is not “be more confident” — it’s often:
- Switch to Box Mode
- Ground yourself
- Focus on structure, facts, or the next small step
- Create a sense of safety and order
This switch can take two minutes or less — and often far less than that.
Why Switching Works Under Pressure
Switching works because it does three critical things at once:
- It interrupts the stress loop
The act of switching shifts attention and reduces the brain’s threat response. - It restores balance
You’re no longer trapped in one way of thinking — you regain range. - It returns choice
You stop reacting and start responding.
Instead of being pulled deeper into anxiety, rigidity, or emotional overload, you create space — and space is where better thinking lives.
Being at Your Best When It Matters Most
The goal of Switch Thinking is not to eliminate pressure. Important moments should feel important.
The goal is to stay fluid under pressure.
To notice when you’re drilling down.
To recognise when “more of the same” isn’t helping.
And to give yourself permission to switch — quickly, safely, deliberately.
That’s how people perform well on the range and on the course.
That’s how they think clearly in meetings, interviews, conversations, and moments that matter.
And that’s why the real skill isn’t preparation alone — it’s the ability to switch.
Because when pressure rises, the people who thrive aren’t the ones who try harder.
They’re the ones who switch smarter.