Stressful situations can cause people to behave differently. Those individuals who are in a leadership position sometimes manage people differently when they are under pressure. Many managers can become authoritative, clouded by panic and lose their ability to lead others.
I recently attended a business roundtable and one of the topics discussed was how to manage effectively in stressful conditions. Here are some of the suggestions we shared.
Identify what about the source of stress you can control and what you cannot. Prioritize and focus on the things you can change and do not waste time worrying about things you cannot. Think before you act and do not take any action if there are strong emotions involved. Logical decisions typically produce better results than emotional ones.
If the stressful situation involves an area you are proficient in, the solutions will come more naturally to you. The level of stress you experience will be less and the tension will go away sooner. It is important to trust your judgment in these situations.
Sometimes you may find yourself in unchartered waters, dealing with a stressful situation which is completely foreign to you. In these cases you should seek the advice of an expert. If you are nervous about a public speech you are going to deliver, reach out to a professional speaker and ask for some advice. If high employee turnover and staffing issues are the source of your stress, consult with a human resources expert to help you remedy the situation.
Nothing beats preparing in advance and having a contingency plan. For the important areas of your life ask yourself βwhat could possibly go wrong, and how could I better prepare for it?β This will help you be prepared for major events like losing a key client, dissolution of a business partnership, major medical issues and more.
We all have many sources of stress. It is how you deal with them that determines your ability to lead in pressure situations.
