Pressure Loop
The Pressure Loop describes what really happens to behaviour when the pressure rises.
Most systems assume people act logically under stress.
GLM starts with the opposite assumption — that pressure changes behaviour first, and process second.
The Pressure Loop shows how truth softens, standards fade, and drift begins long before performance drops on paper.
Core Explanation
When pressure rises, people instinctively protect themselves – not the process. Truth gets softened to stay safe. Standards slip quietly to avoid conflict. Leaders lose authority when they cannot act cleanly. Drift accelerates, performance becomes theatre, and the loop reinforces itself until behaviour, culture, and outcomes all degrade.
The Pressure Loop helps leaders see this pattern early, break it calmly, and rebuild belief before the system collapses.
What This Means for Leaders
Leading inside the Pressure Loop means understanding that drift isn’t laziness — it’s survival behaviour.
Leaders must focus less on process compliance and more on behavioural signals.
GLM gives a structured way to intervene early, hold standards without drama, and reset belief before credibility is lost.