PMI UK Webinar: From Fear to Focus – Harnessing Positive Stress for Stronger and Sustained Performance. 15th January 2026

In today’s high-stakes project environments, stress is inevitable—but it doesn’t have to be a setback. This dynamic session explores how to transform stress into a powerful catalyst for clarity, creativity, and performance. Discover how the brain’s stress response can be rewired through neuroplasticity to sharpen focus and improve decision-making. You’ll learn practical, science-backed techniques to shift from reactive to proactive thinking—empowering you to lead with confidence, manage complexity, and drive project success. Whether you’re navigating tight deadlines or leading through uncertainty, this session will equip you with tools to turn pressure into progress.

Speakers

Nigel Smith is a Project Management Coach at a fast growing private tech companies, Sitetracker, Past Director of Professional Development at the Project Management Institute UK Chapter and a long-standing member of Toastmasters International, where he’s currently president of PMI UK Changemakers Club and Club Member at Birmingham Bullring Speakers.

He’s also an aspiring writer, speaker, avid reader, visual storyteller, world traveller, music lover and car fan, though not necessarily in that order! He’s passionate about bringing out the very best in himself and others. As such, he always seeks out great opportunities to learn, have fun and share his world, particularly with those who get him thinking and drive his curiosity!  And pretty much that is what brings him here today!

Kevin Lavering is an Author, Instructor and Program Director, with more than 25 years’ experience as a program and project manager, plus a decade of experience as a company trainer in emotional intelligence and leadership courses. He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering (Brigham Young University) and an MBA (Seattle University). Kevin also obtained his Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification in 2000. He is an experienced conference speaker on the topics of Authenticity and Humility leadership and has recently published his book, Core Humility.  He has been married for 35 years and is the parent of five kids who have provided him with many training and learning opportunities around emotional intelligence.