Managing Leadership Stress

Bal, Campbell, McDowell-Larsen

• Publisher: Center for Creative Leadership Press
• Year: 2008
• Print ISBN: 9781604910230
• eBook ISBN: 9781604917239
• Topic: Business
• Subtopic: Leadership
• Index: Business

Everyone experiences stress, and leaders face the additional stress brought about by the unique demands of leadership: having to make decisions with limited information, to manage conflict, to do more with less... and faster! The consequences of stress can include health problems and deteriorating relationships. Knowing what signs of stress to look for and having a strategy for increasing your resources will help you manage leadership stress and be more effective over a long career.

Stress Assessment

Many leaders operate in continually high-pressure environments, so they often don’t recognize their negative responses to stress. But because long-term consequences of stressful situations can be detrimental to your health and well-being, it is important that you identify when your reactions don’t help alleviate the stress that you feel. Consider the following descriptions of common stress reactions. How often do these descriptions match your responses?

The Ticking Time Bomb

	Early signs: Doesn’t acknowledge low levels of stress. Lets stressful events pass. Swallows his initial reaction to stressors.
	Consequence: Takes on more and more work and responsibility. No one around him knows that he is stressed.
	Over time: More and more he sends signs of distress, such as an angry comment, refusing to help a colleague, withholding information.
	The end: Eventually he explodes with an emotional outburst. His resources for handling stress decrease because he damages his relationships with others.
	I have seen this in myself

The Critic

	Early signs: Picks at the details unnecessarily. Finds something negative in just about everything. Makes small critical comments that may be couched in humor as sarcasm.
	Consequence: Her negative behavior keeps people at a distance and decreases her access to social support.
	Over time: A pall of negativity affects the working climate of the group or team and has a negative impact on its productivity.
	The end: Eventually, the negativity bruises and batters what could have been effective relationships. Her stress increases because of a lack of social support.
	I have seen this in myself

The Self-Indulgent Monster

	Early signs: Not able to focus on work. Distracts himself with other, less important tasks. Unable to remain productive.
	Consequence: Feels guilty about his lack of productivity. His negative self-image adds to the stress he feels.
	Over time: He retreats into himself and continues to distract himself with sensory pursuits like watching TV, drinking alcohol to excess, and overeating.
	The end: Eventually, his sensory pursuits detract from his ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Copyright
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• The Stress of Leadership
• Why Is Leadership Stressful?
• Stress Assessment
• When Stress Is Who, Not What
• Handling Your Leadership Stress
• Less Stress, Better Leadership
• Suggested Readings
• Background
• Key Point Summary