Talk
Leadership Under Pressure
A practical, story-led talk for leadership teams, supervisors, future leaders, manufacturing teams, schools, colleges and organisations developing people who carry responsibility.
Enquire
Leadership under pressure
The Crux
What mountains, expeditions and factory floors taught me about calm decisions, standards, accountability and leading people when things are no longer comfortable.
Written by Michael O’Shea — operations leader, Mountain Leader and former outdoor instructor.
Not written from a textbook.
The Crux is a story-led leadership book about the moments that test you — pressure, mistakes, difficult conversations, standards, responsibility and the lessons that stay with you afterwards.
Some lessons came from mountains and expeditions, where conditions change quickly and people look to you for calm decisions.
Some came from factory floors and operational leadership, where rhythm, standards, accountability and trust are built through what leaders do every day.
The book is written for new leaders, experienced leaders, supervisors, operations managers, outdoor leaders, coaches and anyone who has carried responsibility before they felt fully ready for it.
Speaking and leadership sessions
Mike is available for selected talks, book discussions and leadership sessions built around the lessons in The Crux.
Session
The Crux Leadership Session
A focused session using stories from mountains, expeditions and factory floors to help teams reflect on pressure, standards, ownership, difficult conversations and decision-making.
EnquireMedia
Podcast and media enquiries
For conversations about leadership under pressure, operational leadership, outdoor lessons, factory-floor culture, standards and the story behind The Crux.
EnquireOutdoor leadership days
For teams who want to take the learning outdoors, Mike can connect the themes of The Crux with experienced outdoor leadership delivery through Simon and Orange.
What it can explore
- Calm decision-making when conditions change.
- Communication, trust and team responsibility.
- Standards, ownership and accountability under pressure.
- Reflection that connects outdoor challenge back to work.
“When the pressure rises, the real lesson begins.”
Book a conversation
Talks, sessions, podcasts and outdoor leadership days
To discuss a leadership talk, book discussion, team session, podcast interview or outdoor leadership day, contact Mike.
crux.performance.partners@gmail.com