A major component of stress is feeling helpless or alone. Partner with those who understand your vision, limitations, and goals, build a better team and have people to lean on in times of stress.Be sure to figure out what your strengths are and what you need in a partner before taking on any type.

Find Partners Who Understand.

Leadership

Managing your own expectations about where you see yourself, your team and your company can have a dramatic impact on mitigating much of your stress.Developing realistic deadlines, strategic plans and budgets can ease much of the stress we feel as we strive to grow. Accept where you are in the process and the limitations of yourself and your team, and slowly build from there.

Manage Your Expectations

Stop often and take stock of your physical, mental and emotional health, as they all play a role in how well you handle stress. Be sure you are taking care of yourself in each of these areas before you dedicate all your time to the business.

Don’t Overlook Your Personal Needs

Studies suggest that the way a leader handles stress could have serious consequences for employees and, ultimately, company culture and productivity.A stressed leader can be unpredictable and edgy, and that affects the team’s work satisfaction and performance, possibly even leading people to quit.

Leadership And Stress

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Stress is part of all of our lives. But for entrepreneurs and managers, it can be even more overwhelming and carry higher consequences. A <a href="https://www.vitalsmarts.com/press/2018/11/the-manager-effect-1-out-of-3-managers-cant-handle-high-stakes-situations-and-as-a-result-their-teams-are-less-successful/">new study</a> suggests that the way a leader handles stress could have serious consequences for employees and, ultimately, company culture and productivity.
I'm no stranger to stress and how it can have a severe effect on an individual as well as the team they manage. A year or so ago, I developed severe burnout as a result of the stress I was carrying. Starting a new company, training a highly qualified team, new business development and DIY renovating my home all at once were maybe too much at one time.
My stress caused burnout to the point where I had to take some steps away before everything came crashing down around me. My team was faced with dealing with a manager who was unpredictable and edgy, as I struggled to manage all my emotions. The team wasn't sure what direction we were going in, and they started looking for a way out. Luckily, I was able to take a few steps back, get the rest and help I needed to overcome the burnout and get back on track. We lost a few good employees along the way but overall maintained a solid team. Those who stuck around did so because I communicated my situation clearly and honestly with them, so they understood where my unpredictable responses were coming from.
According to a Fast Company <a href="https://www.fastcompany.com/90272147/how-managers-deal-with-stress-impacts-their-employees?partner=feedburner&amp;utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=feed&amp;utm_campaign=feedburner+fastcompany&amp;utm_content=feedburner">article</a> that reported on the study, when dealing with a "hot-headed manager," employees are 62% more likely to quit compared to those with managers who communicate when stressed. It also shows that employees are 56% more likely to stop participating, and 47% are more likely to be frustrated. All this can add up to a serious lack of productivity, overall dissatisfaction with their jobs, and ultimately resentment toward the individual leaders.
If you know that you are negatively impacting your team, it can cause a circular effect of stress and hardship for you as you attempt to carry on for the sake of your dream, the company and your employees. So what can you do to ensure you are providing a positive experience for your team versus a negative one in times of stress?
1. Learn how to manage your expectations. Stressful situations are part of life and a big part of being an entrepreneur. However, taking the time to manage your own expectations about where you see yourself, your team and your company can have a dramatic impact in mitigating much of your stress.
Often, we envision our businesses moving quickly and can set unrealistic deadlines for ourselves and our teams. Taking a moment to slow down and develop realistic deadlines, strategic plans and budgets can ease much of the stress we feel as we strive to grow. Accept where you are in the process and the limitations of yourself and your team, and build from there one step at a time. A big part of my own stress was caused because I wanted everything to be perfect, and I wanted to move too fast to achieve the big dreams and goals I had set for the company and myself. Once I slowed down and realized that everything didn't need to be perfect, my mindset shifted. I relaxed, and we made more of an impact on our goals.
By taking a step back to set more realistic expectations, you will hopefully be able to breathe more freely, thus eliminating at least some of the stress in your life.
2. Don't overlook your personal needs. No matter where you are in your career or business path, you need to stop often and take a mental inventory of your health. Physical, mental and emotional health all play a role in how well we handle stress. Be sure you are taking care of yourself in each of these areas before you consume all your time with the business. Based on my own experience, take the time to check in with yourself, establish that your basic needs are being met (no more skipping lunch to work!), and find time to end the workday each evening. Your stress will start to fade over time, if not immediately.
Much like the airlines tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first in an emergency situation, you must take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally first before you can care for your business.
3. Find partners who understand. You don't have to be alone. A major component of stress is feeling helpless or alone. By working with others, you can partner with those who understand your vision, limitations and goals. With the right people, you can build a better team and find others to lean on in times of stress.
Having someone to talk to about your own frustrations can go a long way. Partners in this sense can be any internal partnerships with individuals who share your vision, or with other companies who have similar goals. Be sure to take the time to figure out what your strengths are and what you need in a partner before taking on any type.
Overall, what we need to remember is that our stress and how we handle it affects others. Remembering to take care of ourselves first so that we may better care for our businesses, our team and our families is the key.
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Stress is part of all of our lives. But for entrepreneurs and managers, it can be even more overwhelming and carry higher consequences. A new study suggests that the way a leader handles stress could have serious consequences for employees and, ultimately, company culture and productivity.

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Don’t Overlook Your Personal Needs

Leadership And Stress

A Guide to Managing Your (Newly) Remote Workers

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Bite‑sized knowledge
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