Handle pressure by staying calm, focused, and solution-driven. Start with a quick assessment to identify bottlenecks—slow queries, indexing issues, or resource limits. Communicate clearly with the client, set realistic expectations, and deliver quick wins while planning long-term fixes. Pressure is just urgency—meet it with clarity, skill, and confidence.

In high-pressure situations, like when a client demands immediate database performance fixes, I stay calm and quickly assess the issue. I prioritize the most critical areas, whether it's slow queries or resource limitations, and keep the client informed with realistic timelines. I then apply targeted solutions like query optimization, indexing, or load balancing, working closely with the team to implement fixes. After resolving the issue, I conduct a post-mortem to identify root causes and prevent future performance bottlenecks. Communication and proactive problem-solving are key in these high-stakes moments.

When a client demands immediate database performance fixes, I stay calm and focus on quick diagnosis. I assess the issue’s scope and use tools like query profiling, execution plans, and resource monitoring to identify bottlenecks—be it inefficient queries, missing indexes, or skewed data. I implement quick wins like query tuning, partitioning, or caching to provide immediate relief, while outlining a long-term optimization plan. Clear, timely communication with stakeholders ensures transparency and trust, while documenting changes helps maintain stability. My goal is to resolve the issue efficiently without compromising future performance.

When a fire erupts, there are two ways to respond. One is frantic, throwing whatever is available at the flames, hoping something works. Or stay calm and strategic. This principle applies to any critical issue, like a database failure. Without a clear strategy, you risk making things worse. My approach is to focus on the most urgent part of the problem and quickly resolve 10-20% of it, often by adding more resources (CPU & Memory). Once stabilized, I then look deeper: examine logs, identify long-running queries, check for locks, investigate index or table issues, and troubleshoot application errors.

Pressure makes people jump straight into fixing—but that’s how you create bigger fires. You need discipline, not speed. —> Step 1: Acknowledge the client. Most escalation is about silence, not slowness —> Step 2: Isolate the change window—was it code, infra, or queries? Guessing burns time —> Step 3: Deliver a visible quick win—fix one thing fast so you buy space to fix the rest well Handling pressure isn’t about being a hero—it’s about staying rational when everyone else is reactive.