Performance under pressure in The Attributes
The Attributes by Rich Diviney explores a question many leaders quietly wrestle with: why do some people perform well when things become uncertain, while others struggle, despite having similar skills and experience?
Diviney’s answer lies not in competence alone, but in attributes, the underlying capacities that shape how individuals respond to pressure, ambiguity and risk. Reading the book, I found myself reflecting on moments where technically capable people faltered, and others, seemingly less qualified on paper, stepped forward.
What makes the book compelling is its insistence that attributes are not fixed traits. They are shaped through experience, exposure and reflection. This reframing shifts the conversation from selection to development, from labelling to learning.
The writing blends research with lived experience in a way that feels practical rather than abstract. There is no attempt to simplify the complexity of human behaviour, but there is a clear belief that we can become more adaptive if we are willing to pay attention to how we react under strain.
For anyone interested in leadership, resilience or decision-making in uncertain environments, The Attributes offers a valuable lens for understanding performance beyond job descriptions.
