I perform better when not under competitive pressure, which is probably why I've found a natural home in Audax. When I'm trying to win, I tense, get stressed, make poor judgements and generally underperform.
My best 100 mile time trial was done after a poor night's sleep, I didn't feel great at the start, my cycle computer wasn't registering properly and when I tried to adjust it whilst riding pushed it into the spokes where it went flying off into the middle of the A11. Without any data I just concentrated on going as hard as I thought sustainable and set a 15 minute PB, which is to this day (and probably forever) not only my fastest 100, but a faster average speed than my fastest 50.
That psychology also applies for me at work, in big pitches, major presentations, or writing reports I have to find the right balance between caring about what I am doing and not giving a s**t. If I worry about how important the event is or what it means to me, I'll underperform. If I can convince myself that it doesn't matter, I'll probably nail it.
But I know from experience that's different for other people.