In today’s always-on, tech-driven world, stress at work has become the norm.
Deadlines, shifting priorities, and constant change can push even the strongest leaders into reactivity—disconnected from their teams, their purpose, and themselves.
But what if stress wasn’t the enemy?
What if stress could become your advantage?
In a world of pressure and uncertainty, real leadership still happens—one clear, curious, human conversation at a time.
We help professionals and teams transform stress into clarity, build trust when it matters most, and lead with connection no technology can replace.
Despite all the advances in technology, at the heart of every business that works – every team that thrives – is something timeless: human connection.
Connection lives inside real conversations—the messy, meaningful, in-the-moment kind—especially when things get hard.
When you understand how to work with stress—not resist it—you lead with more presence, communicate with purpose, and build high-performing teams through stronger relationships.
We don’t teach you to push stress aside. We help you turn it into your most valuable leadership tool. Because when you can understand your stress response—and meet it with the right skill set—you show up differently. More focused. More open. More effective.
Our programs are grounded in three core pillars:
Know Your Patterns. Catch your blind spots. Learn to pause and choose rather than react on autopilot.
When stress hits, self-awareness vanishes. We default to autopilot—defensiveness, emotional reactivity, and old patterns take over. Conflict rises. Performance slips.
Stress is rarely factored into hiring decisions or team dynamics. But it should be. Because when we’re stressed, blind spots appear—and we don’t even see them.
Treat emotions as useful signals—not distractions—so you can access the very skills that make you effective when you're calm, even when you're not.
Emotional agility means using your emotions as information, not instructions.
Under stress, most people do the opposite—they act from their emotions rather than with them. That’s when communication breaks down. Decisions become rushed. Difficult conversations are avoided.
Without emotional agility, we lose access to the very skills and insights that make us effective when we’re calm.
Build trust and openness so your team feels empowered to speak up, share ideas, and perform at their best.
Psychological safety is the foundation of every high-performing team. When people feel safe, they speak up, take risks, share bold ideas, disagree constructively, hold themselves accountable and grow.
But many leaders avoid encouraging the kind of robust debate that fuels progress—because it’s hard. Without psychological safety, teams retreat. People don’t challenge ideas. Groupthink takes over. Accountability slips. Performance suffers.
Uncover how you—and your team—instinctively react under pressure. Through this powerful Emotional Intelligence Assessment, you'll gain insights into the emotional patterns, communication blind spots, and internal drivers that influence your behavior in high-stress situations. By understanding how stress impacts decision-making and relationships, you'll learn what information you tend to overuse, overlook, or ignore—and how these tendencies affect the way you work together. This assessment goes beyond individual insights to help teams identify collective blind spots and improve collaboration under pressure. Turn your blind spots into strengths, enhance team dynamics, and build a deeper understanding of how to communicate and perform effectively when it matters most.
Stress can cloud your judgment and derail even the most seasoned professionals. Emotional agility is the key to staying grounded, focused, and intentional, especially in high-pressure situations. Learn how to harness your emotions as valuable data—not as directives—so you can respond with clarity, make better decisions, and lead with confidence. Through practical tools and techniques, we'll help you and your team regain access to the skills that often get lost under stress. Build the resilience to stay calm, connected, and aligned with the leader you aspire to be, no matter what challenges arise.
Psychological safety isn't about avoiding discomfort—it's about creating space for honesty, risk-taking, and real engagement. The most effective teams don't shy away from tough conversations; they lean into them with curiosity and respect. Learn how to foster a culture where people feel safe to speak up, challenge ideas, share feedback, and grow—even when the stakes are high. Build the skills to navigate conflict, invite diverse perspectives, and create the trust that drives innovation and performance. Because when people feel safe to talk, teams achieve more together.
Our coaching combines data-driven insight with practical, real-time development tailored to the moments that matter most. Using our proven curiosity-based conversation framework, we help you stay regulated, connected, and clear when it matters most. Develop the skills to communicate with impact, expand your emotional intelligence, and lead with confidence—especially when the stakes are high. Our coaching sharpens your self-awareness, strengthens your presence, and unlocks your full leadership potential.
Whether you’re managing a team, leading through change, or having high-stakes conversations, we help you:
You don’t have to white-knuckle your way through the workday.
Through data-driven assessments and our unique, proven Curious Conversation skills, backed by neuroscience, we help you turn:
When you understand your root stress response and apply the right tools, you stay grounded under pressure, connect with confidence, and lead with impact.
It’s human nature. And when stress shows up, dodging tough conversations feels even easier.
But here’s the thing: when we skip the hard stuff, it doesn’t just go away. It builds. And that’s where real problems start.
The truth?
Difficult conversations carry powerful potential. When handled well, they build trust, deepen understanding, and unlock real progress.
We help leaders and teams develop the skills to show up differently—especially under stress.
Our training turns avoidance into action and tension into meaningful dialogue—so you can lead with clarity, curiosity, and impact when it matters most.
I had a huge problem with communicating with others. Kathy and Kirsten changed my life and helped save my marriage, friends, and career. I cannot thank them enough!
Most feel they communicate well when things are calm, but it’s often in stressful moments that your true communication skills are put to the test.
Under pressure, your words and reactions can shift in ways you might not even notice.
The reality is that stress can subtly undermine even the best communicators, leading to misunderstandings, frustration, and conflict.
While businesses and organizations rely on the effectiveness of each individual, many fail to consider how stress impacts their ability to perform.
Communicating effectively under stress is a critical skill, and we give you the tools you need to navigate these high-stakes conversations with confidence.
Using neuroscience-backed techniques and a framework grounded in emotional intelligence, we help you engage meaningfully in any conversation—by deepening inquiry, exploring diverse perspectives, and seeking true understanding.
Our difficult conversation training has transformed the lives and careers of thousands of professionals, teams, and parents.
Take the first step toward transforming how you communicate under pressure— contact us and unlock the power to connect in conversations that drive real change.
Kathy Taberner & Kirsten Siggins
Mother/Daughter Founders | Institute Of Curiosity
Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioners
Certified Executive Coaches
In today’s fast-paced, high-stress workplace, performing under pressure is part of the job. Constant change, deadlines, and expectations—all create a continuous hum of urgency. The truth is, if you are human, you’re likely feeling the weight of delivering results.
But even the most seasoned professionals can stumble when the stakes are high. Stress has a way of clouding judgment, derailing communication, and turning effective leaders into reactive ones. And while organizations depend on individuals to perform, few recognize the critical link between stress and our ability to lead, connect, innovate, and collaborate.
Performing under pressure is not about eliminating stress; it’s learning how to understand it, harness it and manage it strategically to optimize performance.
Pressure arises when the demands of a situation exceed our perceived ability to handle them. It can trigger stress responses such as heightened emotions, cognitive overload, and physical tension.
In high-pressure moments, professionals often experience a narrowed focus, making it difficult to access creative problem-solving or emotional intelligence. Leaders may feel the weight of responsibility, and teams may struggle with cohesion and communication.
However, managing pressure effectively can enhance performance, sharpen focus, increase motivation, and drive excellence.
The first step to managing pressure is recognizing how it affects you. Do you tend to overthink, shut down, or react impulsively? Understanding your stress patterns allows you to develop strategies to counteract them.
For most professionals, self-awareness flies out the window when stress sets in. As a result, we use a unique emotional intelligence assessment so you can uncover your unique patterns developed in childhood that you default to without even knowing it. In short, it reveals what you can’t see about yourself so that you can build your self-awareness in challenging moments.
When leaders and teams understand their individual patterns and blind spots that influence their emotional triggers, they can show up more effectively by developing specific strategies to stay calm, connected, and effective—no matter how intense the situation.
In high-stakes moments, miscommunication can lead to mistakes, conflict, or inefficiency. Some hold back out of fear of judgment; others say what they think leaders want to hear.
Developing and encouraging a culture of curiosity ensures individuals feel comfortable voicing concerns, sharing new or different perspectives, asking for help, and offering solutions without fear of judgment.
Most perceive stress or pressure as bad, which can feel overwhelming when it’s seen as a threat. However, we need stress in our lives to be productive. So, stress itself is not bad. However, how you perceive and deal with stress is what impacts your performance. Reframing stress as an opportunity shifts your mindset from fear to focus. Instead of thinking stress is a threat, try looking at it as a challenge. This subtle shift fosters resilience and a problem-solving approach.
Performing under pressure is not about eliminating stress but learning how to harness it effectively. Connect with us and equip your leaders and teams with the tools to communicate better, collaborate effectively, and thrive when it matters most—under pressure.
Thrive Under Pressure – Build the Skills to Lead, Connect, and Perform When It Matters Most.
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