What energizes you? When you’re having one of those days when things aren’t going right and nobody’s happy, what do you do? Hopefully, your answer isn’t to find someone to yell at. Leaders seldom make everyone happy and there will sometimes be bad days. How you as a leader handle those bad days can have a significant influence on your effectiveness, not to mention mental health.
It’s vital for a leader to maintain an even temperament. That’s not to say you should never show emotion or let people know when you’re happy or unhappy – it’s important for your team members to know you are human. A little righteous indignation can go a long way if it is on the right subject and is controlled. It’s those deeper feelings of anger or despair, or an inability to concentrate on the issues at hand which must be addressed. That’s when stress becomes dangerous.
Here are a few tips for managing stress before it reaches that dangerous point.
1. Do something physical. A little physical exercise can go a long way toward relieving stress. You don’t have to run a marathon, but a trip around the block can be relaxing. I once worked in a very large 4 story building. My office was on the second floor, so I developed a route that took me from my office to the basement and back up to the 4th floor without ever using the same hall or stairway twice. It took about 20 minutes and when I returned I felt refreshed.
2. Find a confidant. It’s very helpful to have someone in whom you can confide your frustrations. For me, this is my wonderful wife who has been there for me for over 37 years. Your confidant doesn’t have to be a spouse. Perhaps you have another close relative or a long-time friend who you trust. Be careful though as there are a couple of serious pitfalls. You team members should never be your confidants. That just begs for trouble. Also, it’s bad form to use a supervisor in this role. That isn’t to say you shouldn’t share concerns or disagreements with your boss, but they aren’t that shoulder to cry on; and they’ll probably let you know that! Be careful what you talk about with your confidant. There is probably information you shouldn’t share outside your work area.
3. Take a little time off. Some leaders have developed a masochistic tendency to don a superhuman persona. The “life’s short, sleep when you’re dead” idea. There are a few people who get away with that, but most need to take a little down time every now and then. Sometimes you have to put in those long days and weeks, but not always. Take a weekend off; take a vacation. Just get away for a while. And by the way, getting away with the office cell phone stuffed in your back pocket isn’t really what I mean.
4. Go out and catch one of your workers doing something good and tell them about it. Nothing ever gave me a better boost than getting out with the people who held my success in their hands and thanking them for what they do. It’s invigorating!
If you don’t have stress as a leader, you probably aren’t doing your job. But don’t let it burn you out. Try these techniques for a little relief.
Bob Mason is dedicated to leadership development. He works with companies to solve problems by helping supervisors and managers become more effective leaders leading more productive teams. He is a professional speaker and author of Don’t Worry, You Can Do This: What New Supervisors and Managers Need to Know About Leadership; The Art of Not Motivating: How Leaders Can Succeed by Understanding the True Nature of Motivation; Balancing the Generations: A Leader’s Guide to the Complex, Multi-Generational, 21st Century Workplace; and Planning to Excel: Strategic Planning That Works.
A 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force exposed him to great leaders and leadership opportunities such as command of four squadrons, including the Air Force’s largest munitions squadron. He has studied leadership extensively, but more importantly has been there, working with real people, making hard decisions, and experiencing the results.
Contact Bob at Bob@BobMasonSpeaker.com or 505-453-5266
