Time Under Tension: Building Leadership Capacity to Support Your Team

Effective leadership is not just about directing others—it’s about managing the growing demands that come with leading a team, especially as that team expands. The more people you lead, the greater the responsibility you carry. In this context, I often refer to the concept of "Time Under Tension," which describes the need to develop resilience and capacity over time to handle the pressures of leadership. Just as muscles grow stronger when they are subjected to sustained tension in physical training, leaders must build their mental, emotional, and physical capacity to manage the increased load of leading others.

With over 10 years of experience as a corporate wellbeing consultant specialising in burnout prevention, performance enhancement, and stress coaching, I’ve worked with leaders at every level to help them build the resilience they need to support both their teams and themselves. Let’s explore the importance of Time Under Tension in leadership development and how it can transform both your leadership capacity and your team’s wellbeing.

Time Under Tension: What It Means for Leaders

In physical fitness, time under tension refers to the amount of time your muscles are under strain during an exercise. The longer the muscles are under tension, the more they grow in strength and endurance. The same principle applies to leadership. The more time you spend in challenging situations, managing stress, and shouldering responsibility, the more your capacity as a leader develops.

However, this growth doesn’t happen automatically. It requires intention, self-awareness, and the right strategies to ensure you don’t burn out under the weight of responsibility. For leaders, it means developing the mental and emotional resilience to handle stress, maintain focus, and manage not only your workload but also the wellbeing of the people you lead.

Building Leadership Resilience Through Corporate Wellbeing

As your leadership responsibilities increase, so does your exposure to stress. The key to managing this tension effectively is developing resilience—the ability to bounce back from challenges and perform at your best under pressure. Through resilience training, leaders can enhance their ability to cope with stress, avoid burnout, and maintain a high level of performance even in demanding environments.

An essential part of this is adopting a corporate wellbeing strategy that focuses on both physical and mental wellbeing. As a wellbeing consultant, I help leaders integrate stress management techniques and burnout prevention strategies into their daily routines, ensuring they stay healthy and effective in their roles.

Managing the Load: Leading More People Means Managing More Stress

As the number of people you lead increases, so too does the level of responsibility you carry. You're not just managing your own workload; you're now responsible for the performance, wellbeing, and engagement of your team. This can quickly lead to stress overload if not managed properly.

Bi-directional communication is crucial here. Open, transparent communication between leaders and their teams can significantly ease this burden. By encouraging feedback and fostering a culture of trust, leaders can better understand their team’s needs, distribute workloads effectively, and prevent issues from escalating into crises. My coaching programmes emphasise the importance of building communication skills and creating environments where employee engagement thrives.

Leadership Requires Capacity Building

You cannot lead effectively if you haven’t built your own capacity to manage stress, balance competing priorities, and maintain your own mental health at work. Just as muscles can’t sustain growth without proper rest, nourishment, and training, leaders must prioritise their own wellbeing to sustain their ability to lead.

My approach to leadership development involves holistic coaching that focuses on both the professional and personal aspects of a leader’s life. This means addressing areas like:

• Physical wellbeing: Ensuring leaders have the energy and stamina to manage their workload.
• Mental wellbeing: Helping leaders develop strategies to manage stress, avoid burnout, and maintain focus.
• Productivity enhancement: Identifying ways to enter and sustain a creative flow state where leaders can think clearly, innovate, and make better decisions.

This kind of holistic coaching builds leadership capacity, ensuring that leaders are not just surviving but thriving in their roles.

The Importance of Wellbeing Technology and Data-Driven Interventions

Leadership in today’s world also means leveraging wellbeing technology and adopting data-driven interventions to support both personal and team wellbeing. Wearable devices, mental health apps, and data analytics can offer insights into stress levels, engagement, and performance metrics. These tools enable leaders to make informed decisions about their own wellbeing and that of their team, ensuring that interventions are tailored and effective.

By using these technologies, leaders can monitor their stress levels, track their productivity patterns, and implement strategies that promote better balance and performance. I integrate these technologies into my coaching, providing leaders with actionable data to guide their wellbeing strategies and enhance both individual and team performance.

Leading with Resilience and Inclusivity

Modern leadership also requires a deep understanding of diversity and inclusion. Leaders are not only responsible for their wellbeing but also for creating environments where every team member feels valued and included. Diversity and inclusion are key to fostering an engaged, resilient workforce. Inclusive leadership means understanding the diverse experiences and challenges your team faces and adapting your leadership approach to meet these needs.

An in-house wellbeing programme that integrates diversity and inclusion principles can significantly boost employee engagement and performance. I help leaders develop the skills to lead inclusively, ensuring that their wellbeing strategies reflect the diversity of their teams.

Balancing Leadership Responsibilities with Personal Wellbeing

As a leader, your team looks to you for guidance, support, and vision. But to lead others effectively, you must first take care of yourself. Leaders who neglect their own mental health at work are at greater risk of burnout, which can lead to poor decision-making, reduced engagement, and ultimately, a negative impact on the team’s performance.

Through stress management coaching and burnout prevention strategies, I work with leaders to ensure they are managing their own wellbeing while supporting their team. This includes developing healthy work-life boundaries, adopting stress reduction techniques, and ensuring leaders have access to the resources and support they need.

Conclusion: Strengthening Leadership Through Time Under Tension

Leadership is not easy, and the more people you lead, the more complex and demanding your role becomes. But by building your resilience, enhancing your communication skills, and prioritising your own wellbeing, you can thrive under the pressures of leadership. Time under tension is an opportunity for growth—not just for you, but for your entire organisation.

With 10 years of experience in corporate wellbeing, performance enhancement, and stress coaching, I specialise in helping leaders build their capacity to manage the demands of their roles. My approach combines holistic coaching, data-driven interventions, and the latest in wellbeing technology to create sustainable strategies for leadership development.

If you’re ready to enhance your leadership capacity, improve workplace performance, and ensure both you and your team thrive, let’s connect and explore how my services can support your journey.

About the Author: With over 10 years of experience in corporate wellbeing, I specialise in helping leaders and organisations enhance their performance and prevent burnout through tailored coaching programmes. My expertise in burnout prevention, stress management, and performance enhancement helps leaders build resilience, improve team engagement, and thrive under pressure. Contact me today to learn how I can help you build your leadership capacity and create a healthier, more productive workplace.