The best performers aren't performing at all.
Michael Sheasby is one of Australia's most original voices on pressure and authentic performance.
In 2014, he stood on the stage of the Sydney Opera House, having achieved his dream, and fell apart under pressure. A year later, it happened again, this time on set with Mel Gibson and Andrew Garfield. What he discovered in rebuilding from those two moments became the foundation of everything he now teaches - and a framework that is changing how leaders, teams and organisations perform when it counts most.
Where other experts draw on sport, science or the military, Michael draws on something far more unexpected: the craft of acting. As a leading lecturer and former Head of Screen at NIDA, one of the world's most prestigious performing arts institutions, he has spent a decade translating the secrets of elite performance into practical tools that anyone can use immediately.
The answer, he discovered, is counterintuitive. The best performers aren't performing at all. They've simply learned to show up as themselves when it matters most.
Michael is an AACTA-nominated actor and Heath Ledger Scholarship recipient who continues to work internationally across film, television and stage. He works privately with executives, artists, athletes, and organisations who operate in high-stakes environments where authenticity isn't a virtue, it's a competitive advantage.
Talking Points
Stop Performing Under Pressure
How the craft of acting can help high performing individuals and organisations show up authentically when it counts most. For two decades Michael Sheasby has performed at the highest levels of his craft - on set with Oscar winners, on stage at the Sydney Opera House, as well as leading the screen studies at one of the worlds most prestigious acting institutes (NIDA). What he discovered is counterintuitive. The best performers aren't performing at all.Stop Performing Under Pressure
Key Takeaways:
- Why trying to perform under pressure is the problem - and the counterintuitive shift that changes everything
- A practical framework for handling pressure drawn from the craft of acting, applicable immediately
- How to show up as yourself in any high-stakes moment - boardroom, pitch, leadership, team culture
- How to use pressure as a signal rather than a threat - And transform it into presence
- Why authenticity is a competitive advantage - and how to build a culture around it
Listening to Michael's words brought a sense of calm to our group of usually-frantic business professionals. Who knew the lessons of an actor could be so relevant to corporate life. ... keep reading PwC Global London
By far, hands down, the best value for money I've ever spent on my education in terms of professional development.
Now I have people not just saying 'that was a great presentation' but coming up to me days later saying 'your presentation really connected with me and I just can't get your message out of my head.' In my role as a CEO this is critical.
This process is the answer — whether you're an actor in a rushed closeup with Scorsese, or an athlete in the 79th minute with the World Cup on the line. It's the same thing. Comfort in the chaos.
Since Michael's coaching, I've undoubtedly felt more confident within myself which is helping me feel less nervous when it comes to presenting to clients and colleagues at work.
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