Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney

Why Pressure Breaks Smart People—and How to Use It Instead with Jay Abbasi

Anne Bonney Season 17 Episode 373

How do you perform under pressure without burning out? In this episode of Dancing in the Discomfort Zone, host Anne Bonney sits down with Jay Abbasi (https://jayabbasi.me/) global keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, former Tesla leader, and host of the Unstuck podcast to break down how high performers can navigate stress, uncertainty, and change with resilience and clarity.

Jay draws from his experience leading national training programs at Tesla and coaching leaders at Google, Amazon, and Wells Fargo to explain why burnout isn’t a weakness, how pressure hijacks focus and decision-making, and what actually helps professionals stay grounded, effective, and engaged. This conversation blends leadership development, mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and practical resilience strategies for today’s fast-paced workplace.

Perfect for leaders, high achievers, and teams navigating change, stress, and constant demands.

In This Episode we talk about...

  • why burnout hits high performers hardest
  • how pressure impacts focus, decision-making, and resilience
  • practical strategies to manage stress and uncertainty at work
  • purpose-driven leadership and thriving through change

Want more from Jay?  Here are the links!

Jay Abbasi is a global keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and former Tesla leader who helps professionals thrive under pressure without burning out. At Tesla, he led national training programs for over 1,000 employees and has since coached leaders at Google, Amazon, and Wells Fargo. Featured in Forbes Founder and Authority Magazine, and host of the top-rated podcast Unstuck, Jay blends corporate experience with expertise in mindfulness, resilience, and purpose-driven leadership.