The C Zone: Peak Performance Under Pressure

by Robert J. Kriegel, Marilyn Harris Kriegel

Outlines a practical program of proven techniques designed to enhance talents and strengths to help performance in a high-pressure environment and to help develop such key facets as confidence, commitment, and control

142 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Michael David]

The book is a simplified version of Csikszentmihalyi's concept of flow. Instead of calling it flow, however, the book calls it the C zone. The C Zone is the hallmark of Type C behavior, which is in between Type A and Type B behavior (highstrung and passive, respectively).

To become a Type C personality, there must be an interweaving of three characteristics: these are commitment, confidence, and control. To be in the C zone, one must thread the needle between mastery and challenge. This book is strongly against the precepts of Peale to keep on thinking positively.

One of the major issues against arriving at the C Zone is fear. The book provides suggestions, such as reality checks to address those. Similar to Duhigg's Smarter, Faster, Better, reality checks through visualization address possible problems and also increase focus: "the key to overcoming fear and increasing confidence is not to think positively but to think realistically."

By focusing on what one can control, one also increases one's motivation in the process. The book is a great introduction to the concept of flow, and is also simple enough to follow.