Turn stress into success

Welcome to What Else Is Possible?, a biweekly newsletter that explores what it means to be a modern leader. Together, we’ll uncover personal and professional opportunities for growth, allowing you to leave your unique mark on the world. 

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It's no secret that we're all stressed. Now more than ever, the weight of our responsibilities can create brain melt - or the feeling of mental tension in a world that operates on information overload. With 94% of workers feeling stressed, it's a nearly universal experience. Luckily, these moments don't have to be a destabilizing force. The question isn't whether stress will happen, but what will you do with it? 

Framed the right way, moments of critical mass can serve as powerful motivation. For leaders, channeling stress into a productive effort is essential, and the best ones know they need to work with their stress, not against it. 

Think of how far a rubber band can stretch. There is a measurable level of tension that makes the rubber band perform at an optimal level. It needs stress to serve its primary function. Stretch it too far, however, and it will snap. Stress works the same way for us. 

A primal and natural human response, stress gets a lot of disrespect. We tend to define it in negative terms, but healthy stress results in increased productivity, and “good stress,” or what psychologists refer to as eustress, has myriad emotional and physical health benefits. Eustress is what we feel when riding a roller coaster, or being awarded a promotion. It’s still stressful, but it feels like something we can handle. It’s exciting. Without good stress, growth just isn’t possible. 

Just like the rubber band, when we have the right amount of tension, it can be a catalyst for improved performance. We see athletes demonstrate this all the time. When presented with a high-pressure situation, they rise to the occasion. As leaders, our job is to stress the system enough to grow, yet still be ready to help it recover and try again. There is always a tipping point where the stress and discomfort turns into a breakthrough. When we embrace the pressures that come from calculated risk, momentum is sure to follow. While it may feel safer to play it safe, the truth is that if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing.

How an individual accepts stress determines ultimately whether the person can adapt successfully to changes. When addressing stress, we have two choices: succumbing to anger or overwhelm, or changing how we feel about our stressors. Physical and emotional reactions occur because our body is responding to a perceived threat. If you don't see something as a threat, there is generally no stress response. Try viewing stressors as challenges and transmuting fear into excitement, anticipation, or at least motivation. Reframing allows us to relieve significant amounts of stress and create a more positive situation before actually changing our circumstances.

It’s often been said that the space between where you are and where you want to be is where stress lies. The trick is discovering how to close that gap. Leaders need to be able to do this for themselves and their teams. A new goal, initiative, or idea naturally increases that tension, but remember (and help others remember) that with the discomfort comes opportunity.

What else is possible? 

A single moment can change the course of our life or career. If we look closely, we can see these moments of possibility as they emerge. I call these “What Else” moments, allowing us to see a vision of what’s possible. When these What Else moments connect, tangible and sustainable growth is within reach. With that in mind, I want you to consider this question: 

What else is possible when we embrace stress instead of fearing it? 

New ideas and diverse outlooks inspire me, so let’s talk! Let me know what you think in the comments. 

Are you ready to discover what else is possible? Contact me here to start the conversation.



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