Convert stress into leadership success

Here’s how you can stop feeling stressful and view it as an opportunity to grow and develop in less than thirty seconds.

- PAYAL NANJIANI

During my visits to corporates to deliver keynotes and leadership breakthrough workshops, of the conversations I have with people, the issue of stress – and how to deal with it keeps recurring. When asked about the cause for stress, the common answers I receive include:

1. Business uncertainty

2. Layoffs and job instability

3. Work pressure

4. Want for more income and luxury

5. Long working hours

6. Long commute

7. Too many changes within the organizations

8. Disruptions and quick innovations

9. Being unhappy with the job

10. Workplace conflicts and relationships

To live stress-free would be to deny our responsibility as leaders. Leaders have to make crucial decisions, lead teams, and stay focused on what they do. So, they’re going to be stressed. However, today most leaders are overstressed. Despite the best resources available to deal with stress, stress has only escalated. Stress isn’t the real problem in our life. The real problem is our inability to deal with what I call – our inner leader.

The nature of work, on its own, is never the real cause of stress. I’ve met CEOs who complain about stress, and janitors who complain about stress. What average leaders do is to complain about stress, whereas exceptional and successful leaders use stress as a pathway to growth and progress. One technique I use in coaching executives is what I call ‘M3’. This technique will take you no more than thirty seconds to convert stress into success or vice versa.