Managing Leadership Stress Before You Manage The Rest

By Brian Marshall

"Stress stresses like nothing else". Stress is perhaps one of the most over-used words of the present generation. It’s over use is justified as more than half the population has been under its wrath at some point of time or the other. While almost all jobs are stressful, some are considered more than others. Jobs at executive levels come with more responsibility and more responsibility brings about more stress. Managers and leader, who sit at the top rung of the ladder, are often saddled down with a lot of stress. Managing leadership stress is important not only from the individual’s perspective but from the organization’s too!

Contrary to what was believed earlier, stress is not just a state of mind. High levels of stress trigger off numerous other problems, both minor and major. When one is in a stressed out condition, a chemical called noradrenaline is released in the body. This also produced when one is very angry. Noradrenaline causes a person’s blood pressure levels to shoot up. Other ailments associated with stress are fatigue, irritation, stomach ulcers, headaches, insomnia etc.

The managers and bosses sitting high up on the ladder are often bogged down with the pressure of ensuring that the teams under them run smoothly. Managing people is not an easy job but managing leadership stress need not be too difficult if a few basic steps of managing leadership stress are followed.

EXERCISE

The work culture today involves long hours of work without any physical activity. One should take a break every few hours and move about in order to exercise the cramped muscles.

DECIPHER WHAT CAN BE CONTROLLED AND WHAT CANNOT BE

The leaders should keep it in mind that not everything is under their control. Getting disappointed because of something outside their control went wrong is not the right approach.

OFFER PRAISE

It is very important for the managers to praise the people working under them to extract the best possible work for them. Optimum productivity of all workers is the key to both the success of the organization and reduced stress levels of the managers.

SET PRAGMATIC GOALS

It is very important for managers to have pragmatic goals. Unrealistic goals and unusually high expectations not only stress the leadership but also make the work force dissatisfied and ultimately, less productive.

MAINTAIN A BALANCE

Maintaining a balance between professional and personal life is one of the links towards maintaining a stress free life. Care should be taken that the two never overlap.

Managing leadership stress is not as difficult as it might sound. In fact, it is harder said than done. Maintaining a good lifestyle and adhering to the above mentioned rules are the secret behind it.

Brian Marshall is a regular contributor on problems related to stress management in work places. With a MBA in HR Management, he takes avid interest in all aspects of HR management. He is credited with pioneering work in the field of managing leadership related stress. Read more of his work at http://www.managing-stress-articles.com Managing Stress

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