What do you do if your management skills are being tested by stress and pressure?

"Stress is like spice – in the right proportion, it enhances the flavor of a dish. Too little produces a bland, dull meal; too much may choke you." - Donald Tubesing ??? Just sparked a lively chat on managing stress and pressure with top experts! ??? To manage stress effectively, first identify its sources—be they internal like unrealistic expectations or external like interpersonal conflicts. Use tools like a stress journal or the ABC model to track and analyze your stressors and reactions. Ready to tackle your stress and turn it into your strength? ????

I personally believe that Stress and Pressure management is the best way to analyse Management skills. The one who is able to take right decision under pressure is the right person to handle the organisation.

When stress and pressure test your management skills, self-assessment is crucial. Utilize stress management techniques like mindfulness and delegation to alleviate pressure. Communicate openly, setting realistic expectations, and seek support from mentors. Invest in continuous learning and prioritize self-care, such as taking breaks and finding stress-relief activities like trainings, spending time with loved ones, or enjoying hobbies. Delegation builds trust in your team and allows you to focus on essential tasks. Remember, effective stress management varies for individuals, so find what works best for you.

No matter how good you are at planning, in management, some things come to you without planning. Identify your triggers and where they're coming from. Not to sound cliché but doing this ensures that you're facing them with a positive coping mechanism and not maladaptive ones. When you cope with your stressors using maladaptive methods, you're invariably training your brain and heading to a point of difficult return.

Resilience is the key. Being patient and biting those lips when you want to vent out is the key. With experience, you learn that under stress you can make wrong decisions and they can lead to wrong actions. Therefore, being constantly aware of your thoughts and emotions is of vital importance. We should practice not being identified with them at times like these. I always try "not to do" what my mind says at the time of pressure and stress. I rather walk with it, trying being watchful and keeping calm amidst the storm. Surprisingly, it has worked many times and failed few times too. Acknowledging, therefore, that we all are humans makes me feel grounded.

I personally recommend jotting down all your tasks in a diary every day. This simple practice helps you gain clarity on your workload and enables you to prioritize effectively. By organizing your tasks, you can reduce stress levels and tackle your work more efficiently. This strategy not only helps you manage your time better but also ensures that important tasks are completed on time, leading to increased productivity and overall well-being.

If you're managing people or processes, there's a high chance that you're not running solo. So, no matter how much you feel that people won't do it as excellent as you, delegate, ask for help, even if you don't get ?? results, they can meet you halfway. It gets better each time.

Delegate: Assign Tasks: Delegate tasks to team members based on their strengths and workload. Trust Your Team: Empower your team to take ownership of their responsibilities.

Take the task one after the other will reduce the stress face by you.Prioritize your task, on scale of deadlines is important.

Open dialogue: Foster a culture of open communication where team members feel comfortable expressing concerns, sharing ideas, and providing feedback. Encourage regular check-ins and team meetings to address issues and align on goals. Conflict resolution: Address conflicts or disagreements promptly and constructively. Act as a mediator to facilitate resolution and ensure that all parties feel heard and respected. Cross-functional collaboration: Break down silos and encourage collaboration across departments or teams. Utilize platforms or tools for seamless communication and knowledge sharing to enhance productivity and innovation.

Identify stress source and act to manage it by communicating to partners/owners. Its a pyramid remember, so work from above to below and back. Get support to your teams if neccessary when delegating and manage expectations with communication. I found the best tool is also to keep all informed on progress and pressure resolving status reports aling the way.

Amidst a high-pressure project, communication breakdowns threatened team morale. Recognizing this, I initiated daily check-ins to clarify goals and concerns openly. Additionally, I fostered a culture where team members felt safe sharing ideas and seeking help. This transparency alleviated stress and empowered everyone to contribute effectively. Remember, in the whirlwind of responsibilities, clear communication and collaboration are the lighthouses guiding teams through turbulent waters.

Communicate Effectively: Keep Open Lines of Communication: Ensure clear and regular communication with your team. Express Needs and Concerns: Let your team know if you're feeling overwhelmed and seek their support.

Remember that our thoughts yields our feelings. So, it is best to take note and identify the inner dialogues that take place in your mind when you're stressed and pressured. That way, with constant practise, you begin to see those challenges as stepping stones. This is also effective especially in situations where you can't do anything to change the stress or pressure.

Be patient with your inner voice. It will be agitated and frustrated in stressful situations. Know that it is a way that your mind is attempting to rationalize and decompress the diffculties and emotions when things are simply not going smoothly. I often find it useful to take a pause when this starts to be overwhelming. Go for a walk, engage a colleague or work on a more straightforward task.

Self-care routine: Prioritize your physical and mental well-being through regular exercise, adequate sleep, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques such as mindfulness or meditation. Time management: Set boundaries and allocate time for work, personal activities, and rest. Avoid overcommitting and learn to say no when necessary to prevent burnout. Seek support: Don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, or professional networks. Consider therapy or counseling if stress becomes overwhelming, and leverage employee assistance programs if available.

During a hectic period at work, I neglected self-care until burnout loomed. Recognizing the importance of balance, I prioritized my well-being. I started with small changes: mindful breathing breaks, walks during lunch, and setting boundaries. Gradually, these practices became non-negotiable parts of my routine. Remember, amidst chaos, nurturing yourself is not selfish; it's a necessity for sustained resilience and effectiveness.

Set Boundaries Work-Life Balance Set boundaries between work and personal time to prevent burnout. Learn to Say No Politely decline additional responsibilities that you cannot manage. Practice Self-Care Healthy Lifestyle Maintain a balanced diet, get regular exercise, and ensure adequate sleep.

Once removed, get feedback from all and engage in making automatic processes and plan Bs and resolution activities that can be activated upon next occasion, as stress and pressure is a part of most leaders thought their professional paths. So embrace and use each phase to be better prepared for next, or so that each next can decrease in strength.

Continuous learning: Embrace a growth mindset and seek opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement. Attend workshops, seminars, or online courses to acquire new knowledge and perspectives. Reflective practice: Regularly reflect on your experiences, successes, and challenges. Identify lessons learned and areas for improvement to refine your management skills and adapt to changing circumstances. Mentorship and coaching: Seek guidance from experienced mentors or coaches who can provide valuable insights and guidance. Learn from their experiences and apply relevant strategies to your own leadership style.

Amidst a challenging project, I felt overwhelmed as a manager. Instead of succumbing to stress, I embraced it as a catalyst for growth. I sought feedback from my team, acknowledging my limitations. This humility allowed me to learn from mistakes and adapt my approach. Embracing new challenges, I expanded my skill set and resilience. Remember, in the crucible of pressure lies the forge of growth; embrace it, and emerge stronger than before.

Stick to the Plan- there’s a good reason why you are the manager, pressure comes with the responsibility but surely you have proven in the past and you can do it again. Resiliency- pressure and stress will pass at the same time you make progress to finish the task.

Do not carry more than you can take and don't try to impress anyone. I'd rather you give excellent results in the areas of direct responsibility. Do not be a Yes-man, learn to decline politely by building a schedule and going by it. Rather than saying No directly, you can point to pending tasks on your schedule as such although you're declining, you'll be able to show that you're doing valuable work.

When my managerial skills are tested under pressure, I draw upon strategies from my book, "Management in Times of War" I prioritize clear communication, maintaining focus on our core objectives despite the challenges. Decision-making becomes more data-driven, ensuring that each choice is backed by solid reasoning and aligned with our goals. I also lean heavily on delegation, trusting my team with critical tasks while supporting their needs and development. Recognizing the importance of resilience, I encourage a culture of adaptability and learning from setbacks. This approach, rooted in principles outlined in my book, enables me to navigate complex conditions effectively, transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth and improvement.