Ready to manage stress differently this year?
Managing stress is essential for senior executives— and it's vital to maintain our leadership effectiveness. We succeed because of drive and commitment, but nobody can pour from an empty cup. Do you recognize the signs when stress is affecting your responses as a leader? Stress makes some of us shut down; it makes others more reactive. Either way, it’s helpful to recognize when stress is a contributing factor. Let's explore five practical ways to navigate stress and create a supportive work environment this year!
1. Prioritize Self-Care
As a senior executive, recognizing the signs of stress affecting your responses is crucial. Making your stress reduction a priority can benefit everyone. It might be a commitment to a 20-minute walk at noon, kickboxing after work, or getting to bed at the same time every evening. Take Rajiv, a seasoned CEO. Despite his hectic schedule, he always set aside time for his daily morning meditation. One day, during a particularly stressful quarter, he noticed his team was showing signs of increased tension. Rajiv decided to lead by example. He invited his team to join him for a mindfulness session. This gesture of authentic leadership not only alleviated the immediate stress but also spurred a company-wide initiative to incorporate regular mental wellness activities.
2. Develop Strong Time Management Skills
Time management is one of the most common and recurring issues for leaders - it’s a continuous learning process. Sara, a top-level executive in a tech company, faced a constant barrage of urgent tasks. It left her feeling overwhelmed and unable to focus on strategic goals (as in the great Drew Pankeri cartoon above). To tackle this, I coached her to identify assumptions about her business priorities, her availability, and where she should be spending her time. As a result, she improved her delegation and implemented time-blocking techniques. One big step was to reserve recurring periods for crucial big-picture thinking that had been missing from her schedule. Enlisting her assistant to protect these blocks of time was a key success factor. This change not only allowed her to regain focus, but also inspired her team to adopt similar practices, leading to a more balanced and productive work environment.
3. Foster a Supportive Environment
If you led through the pandemic, you know it’s important to create an open, supportive culture by leading through action. Mark, a compassionate executive, noticed a rise in stress levels amongst his team at year-end. To address this, he openly shared his own experiences with stress and encouraged team members to do the same, focussing on sharing insights into their preferred ways to manage stress. His openness created a more empathetic and supportive environment, fostering stronger connections and a shared sense of purpose within the team.
4. Adopt Healthy Coping Mechanisms
As an executive, engaging in stress-reducing activities sets a positive tone for the entire organization. Emily, a seasoned leader, noticed that her team was feeling the strain of planning changes to their business strategy. She asked her team what kind of fun activity they’d like to have during a 2-day in-person strategy session. Based on those ideas, on the second day they stepped out to a local restaurant for a cooking class where they made a group lunch. This not only lightened the mood but also instilled a sense of camaraderie, enabling the team to tackle challenges with a newfound vigor.
5. Address Workload Concerns
Ensure workload distribution is fair and transparent at the senior executive level. When Omar, a thoughtful executive, picked up on comments about workload within the organization, he took a proactive approach. He openly communicated with his directors and created time at 1:1 meetings to understand the workload concerns. Based on these discussions, some tasks and resources were reassigned to ensure more workable distribution. This not only relieved the pressure on overloaded team members, but also fostered a sense of trust and support within the team.
By implementing these strategies, you can effectively manage stress and create a positive work culture. The biggest hurdle for many leaders is to prioritize your well-being so that you can lead with clarity and resilience. Every year and every quarter provides a fresh start on stress management because it’s an ongoing process. GrowthPoints is here to support you on your leadership journey with executive coaching, planning sessions, and retreats. Don’t hesitate to reach out and set up a time to connect!