Leaders face the challenging task of managing their own stress while supporting their teams, necessitating effective strategies.
- Intentional recovery is crucial for sustaining performance and managing stress, as emphasised by experts.
- External support from professional coaches can provide invaluable guidance for leaders in stressful situations.
- Empathy plays a key role in reducing workplace stress, ensuring leaders care for themselves and others.
- Reframing stress as a motivational tool can unlock productivity and foster a flow state in leaders and their teams.
In today’s demanding work environments, leaders often find themselves burdened by the dual responsibility of safeguarding their mental well-being while also ensuring their teams thrive. Practising intentional recovery is essential to this balancing act. Vicky Smith, a Senior Consultant at WorkingWell, advises leaders to take purposeful breaks to recharge energy, which is vital for maintaining peak performance and personal sustainability.
The pressures associated with leadership roles often extend beyond the technical job description. Engaging an independent professional coach or mentor can offer objective advice and a structured environment for personal reflection and growth. According to David Roche, author of ‘Become a Successful First-Time CEO’, this approach serves as a cost-effective investment that yields substantial long-term benefits, both personally and commercially.
Incorporating empathy within leadership practices effectively addresses stress. Sue Musson, author of ‘Firecracker Leadership’, highlights that leaders should prioritise their well-being before they can support others, similar to the guidance given during aeroplane safety instructions. Cultivating a caring organisational culture enables open discussions about stress and builds resilience among team members.
Jeremy Blain, author of ‘Unleash the Inner CEO’, stresses the importance of empowering teams through distributed leadership, which strengthens organisational resilience. This method encourages leaders to establish a horizontal structure where problem-solving responsibilities are shared, thus lessening stress impact on themselves.
With responsibilities come the temptation to micromanage, which only heightens stress. Alexis Sikorsky, author of ‘Cashing Out’, recommends delegating tasks to leverage team strengths. This strategy not only alleviates personal burden but also fosters a collaborative working environment where the team’s collective skills drive business success.
Leaders can also benefit from reframing their perception of stress. Dr Lisa Turner, a Mindset and Resilience Expert, explains that viewing stress as a motivation rather than a hindrance can enhance performance. She advises leaders to find their flow triggers, ensuring they can convert stress into a state of productive immersion.
Finally, leaders should not shy away from acknowledging their own emotional experiences. Blaire Palmer, author of ‘Punks in Suits’, encourages leaders to connect with their emotions, breaking the myth that showing vulnerability undermines authority. By doing so, they not only relieve personal stress but also reinforce trust within their teams.
By adopting these strategies, leaders can effectively manage stress while cultivating a resilient work environment.
