Episode 279: From Alarm to Exhaustion: Self-Awareness and Stress in Leadership
Episode 279: From Alarm to Exhaustion: Self-Awareness and Stress in Leadership
Episode Summary:
In this week's episode of The TRU Leader Podcast, hosts Tracy and Michelle explore the pervasive nature of stress in leadership. Together, they emphasize the importance of self-awareness and stress management to prevent burnout and health issues.
Key Discussion Points:
Personal Experiences and General Adaptation Syndrome: Our hosts discussed and explained general adaptation syndrome: the body’s three-stage response to prolonged stress—alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Michelle shares her experience with vision problems caused by stress due to academic pressure.
Microstressors: Tracy and Michelle highlight the definition and impact of microstressors—subtle yet persistent stressors that accumulate and harm well-being. They referenced research by Rob Cross and Karen Dillon which highlighted the particular vulnerability of high achievers to microstressors, such as managing distant aging parents. They also add that workplace microstressors include toxic leadership and sudden priority changes, leading to significant emotional responses over time.
Leadership Norms and Stress: Our hosts examined leadership norms—unconscious beliefs and expectations—that increase stress by pressuring leaders to seek certainty and avoid vulnerability. Tracy and Michelle advocate for challenging these norms to foster healthier leadership practices.
Stress Continuum Model: Tracy and Michelle introduce a Stress Continuum Model categorized by colors: Green for Optimal Well-being, Yellow for Mild Stress, Orange for Moderate Stress, and Red for Chronic Stress leading to clinical disorders.
Polarities and Balance: Our hosts discuss the concept of polarities—conflicting yet interdependent values such as self-care and caring for others. They emphasize balancing activity and rest for resilience against stressors, comparing leadership to a marathon, requiring training and recovery to sustain performance. They also introduced Polarity Intelligence™ as a method to manage microstressors, stressing the importance of healthy relationships and meaningful dialogue.
Proactive Strategies for Stress Management: Tracy and Michelle give recommendations for self-checks, open communication about distress levels, collaborative decision-making, and effective task management, encouraging mutual support and self-care practices like taking breaks, mindfulness, and maintaining connections with colleagues and clients. They also highlight the significance of after-action reviews for continuous improvement.
To further discuss these themes, you're invited to join our FREE WEBINAR called "From Stress to Success: The Formula for Leaders to Excel Professionally and Personally". This free webinar offers strategies for leaders to thrive in both professional and personal realms. Register here.
Final Thoughts: The episode underscores the importance of recognizing and managing stress in leadership to maintain well-being and prevent burnout. By challenging leadership norms, utilizing stress management models, balancing conflicting values, and implementing proactive strategies, leaders can foster healthier practices and achieve sustained success.
References:
Stress Continuum Model – from Stress First Aid (SFA) for Healthcare Workers
https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/SFA/docs/SFA_HCW_Manual_508.pdf
Cross, R. & Dillon, K. (2023). The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problems and What to Do about It. HBR Press.
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