What do you do if your stress management skills are hindering your long-term career success?

2 Assess your skills

The next step is to assess your stress management skills and identify which ones are helpful and which ones are harmful. You can use a self-assessment tool such as the Stress Management Skills Inventory (SMSI) to measure your level of stress management skills in four areas: coping, relaxation, problem-solving, and communication. The SMSI can help you discover your strengths and weaknesses in managing stress and how they relate to your career performance and satisfaction.

Alternatively, you can use a simple SWOT analysis to evaluate your stress management skills. SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You can list your stress management skills under each category and analyze how they affect your career. For example, a strength might be that you are good at relaxing after work, a weakness might be that you procrastinate on difficult tasks, an opportunity might be that you can learn new skills to cope with stress, and a threat might be that you might lose your job if you don't improve your productivity.

4 Monitor your progress

The fourth step is to monitor your progress and evaluate the results of your modified stress management skills. This can be done by keeping a journal or log of your stress levels, stress management skills, and career outcomes, then regularly reviewing it and noting any changes, improvements, or challenges. Additionally, you should seek feedback from others such as your boss, peers, or clients on your performance, behavior, or attitude. Celebrate achievements and acknowledge efforts to further motivate yourself. Finally, adjust goals or skills as needed based on feedback or results. Monitoring progress in this way helps to track development and ensure that stress management skills are supporting long-term career success.

5 Seek professional help

The final step is to seek professional help if you feel that your stress management skills are not enough or if you experience severe or persistent stress or distress. You can consult a counselor, a coach, a therapist, or a mentor who can help you cope with stress, address any underlying issues, and guide you in your career. You can also join a support group, a workshop, or a course that can teach you new stress management skills or enhance your existing ones.

Seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength and courage. It can help you overcome any barriers or challenges that prevent you from achieving your career potential.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?