BUILDING YOUR CREDIBILITY AS A LEADER
Session 3: Performance Under Pressure
Today I’m outside on my back deck. As you can see, there is a steady wind and it’s overcast with dark clouds moving overhead. We are experiencing the bands from Hurricane Dorian that is 200 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Keeping this in mind, I want to talk about our 3rd session on building your credibility as a leader, performance under pressure. It’s during times of change and stress that our team members get a realistic view of how we react under pressure. What they need and want to see is a steady, rock-solid leader that can direct them safely through the storms, twists, and turns that come from unexpected circumstances or needed change. For us to portray this type of confidence and stability, we must know ourselves and how we portray ourselves to our teams during these difficult times.
Do you know what your stress tolerance is? Can you see and feel how pressure starts to affect your behavior or attitude? Do you know when you have reached your limits? We are honest with ourselves only when can accept our human limitations both in ourselves and the teams that we lead. To earn credibility from our teams, we need to lead well through the stressful and challenging circumstances that will come our way.
What do you do to relieve the stress that comes from being in a position of leadership?
From the Center for Creative Leadership, there are 8 things we can do to make sure we as leaders are handling stress well.
1. Learn your stress signals
Do you clench your fist or tighten up your jaw? Do you get hot or feel your heart rate start to elevate? The sooner you recognize that your body is responding to stress the soon you can do something to manage it.
2. Take a break
Take a physical and mental break several times throughout your day. Get up from your desk and walk around!
3. Learn to delegate
You would not believe how many teams I’ve coached that say they wish their leader would give them more responsibility.
4. Get away!
Set firm boundaries between your home life and your work life. Keep your commitment to having a healthy work-life balance.
5. Exercise regularly
Exercise releases endorphins in your brain that increase positive feelings and decrease stress. Schedule exercise into your calendar.
6. Develop support systems
Develop solid friendships with people with who you do not work with. We all need downtime to recharge our life batteries.
7. Tale time away from work
Make time sure you make time for hobbies and experiences that create joy in your life. I’m a hiker, a biker, and love to kayak. Take a vacation. What about you?
8. Redefine balance
As leaders, if we are not careful, our days can be filled with an over-scheduled, work-related task list. We also need to schedule time off so we can unplug from all things that work.
What does that look like for you? 40-50 hours of work each week balanced with how many hours of play, relaxation, enjoyment!
Today, as you reflect on the last 4 weeks of your life, how much time did you really spend on the things that bring you the most joy in your life?
To increase your credibility as a leader, you must recognize and plan out ways to deal with the stress in your life. Your team, your family, and your health will thank you for it!
This is Denise Adcock with Leadership ON the GO!
