In the ever-evolving world of business, leaders bear the brunt of navigating their teams through challenges and setbacks. It’s a daunting task, especially when trying to balance professional responsibilities with personal well-being. As a leader’s life coach, my mission is to help you find that equilibrium, ensuring you lead not only with efficiency but with empathy and understanding. Here are practical tips on how to manage stress and communicate effectively with your team, ensuring setbacks don’t derail your collective morale or productivity.
Embrace a Mindset of Gratitude and Achievement
First and foremost, it’s crucial to remember why you’re doing what you’re doing. Reflect on your journey—the milestones you’ve achieved, the obstacles you’ve overcome. This isn’t about relentless pursuit for more or a feeling of never being enough. It’s about recognising and celebrating your hard work, discipline, and the attitude that got you here. Hold a constant feeling of satisfaction, peace, and gratitude in your heart. When you operate from a place of gratitude rather than desperation or need, you approach every situation—setbacks included—with a positive mindset, seeing them as part of your success story.
Communication Without Burden
Your team looks up to you not just for direction but for reassurance during turbulent times. It’s essential to be honest about challenges without transferring the weight of your stress onto them. Start by managing your emotions: find healthy outlets for stress and strive to maintain an inner peace. This could be through meditation, exercise, or hobbies that disconnect you from work pressures. When you’re in a state of calm, you can address setbacks with your team in a constructive manner, focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on the problems. Communicate clearly and confidently, and your team will follow suit.
Here, the notion of a “No Blaming Culture” is pivotal. In the face of setbacks, it’s a natural inclination to search for someone to blame. However, fostering a culture where the team understands that pointing fingers only adds stress and diminishes trust is crucial. Emphasise the unwritten law of mutual support—assuring your team that everyone makes mistakes, and what matters is the collective commitment to cover for one another and address issues as a united front. This doesn’t mean ignoring repetitive errors without accountability but rather ensuring that the initial approach is always from a standpoint of “we are in this together, sailing towards the same direction, ready to support each other through thick and thin.”
Perspective in Stress Management
In moments of stress, ask yourself and your team some critical questions to gain perspective: “Is this setback a defining moment or a minor hurdle in our journey?” “How have we overcome similar challenges in the past?” Sometimes, it’s okay to allow yourself a moment to feel disappointed or frustrated—it’s human. But it’s crucial to know when to move from wallowing to action. Encourage an environment where feelings are acknowledged but also channeled into productive outcomes.
Finding Closure and Moving Forward
When something goes wrong, finding closure is key to not harbouring negative feelings towards your staff or the situation. This involves openly discussing what happened, learning from it, and then letting it go. Encourage your team to share their insights and solutions, and celebrate the learning process. This not only helps in personal growth but strengthens the team’s bond.
The Fine Line Between Urgency and Stress
It’s important to differentiate between the sense of urgency and the overwhelming pressure of stress. Urgency drives motivation and action—it’s the thrill of chasing a goal, similar to the joy a child feels when pursuing what they’ve longed for. Stress, on the other hand, stems from a place of not wanting to be present, feeling unworthy, or overwhelmed. If you find yourself in the latter category, it’s time to reassess and find ways to reignite your passion and purpose, transforming stress into a positive driving force.
Remember, your team are your partners, not just subordinates. Your approach to leadership, particularly in how you manage stress and setbacks, sets the tone for the entire team’s work environment and productivity. By fostering a culture of openness, resilience, and mutual support, you’ll not only achieve your business goals but also ensure a fulfilling journey for yourself and your team. Keep the lines of communication open, embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and lead with gratitude and empathy. This way, you cultivate not only a successful business but a thriving workplace culture.
Lorena Bernal
Article published in Management Today.
