T., client of an executive coaching process, was identified for the process by his manager, as he was going to assume more responsibilities in the technology company of which he was, to date, manager of 10 people. We start with an Emotional Intelligence assessment using the EQ360 and everyone’s perspective was very positive. T. was very surprised, especially since his own self-assessment was, in most areas, inferior. In the area of Stress Tolerance, specifically, it was much lower than the evaluation of his peers, direct reports and his own manager, which left T. quite relieved that this stress was not noticeable. T. had a secret. He spent most of his days feeling anxious and feeling that he had to camouflage that anxiety, so as not to be seen as “weak”.
Anxiety is one of the main causes of accidents, hasty decisions, termination of work and personal relationships, communication errors, among others.
As anxiety is related to the future, it arises due to fear and uncertainty of what may arise in the long term. In the field of leadership, if anxiety is present at high levels, putting cognition “ahead” of action, it can affect the leader’s emotional level, causing him not to perform his duties correctly or jeopardize the work of the leader. your team. Anxiety can be a natural and important response, functioning as a warning system for potential dangers.
A leader with high levels of anxiety will not only have repercussions at a personal level, but also at a professional level, such as reduced productivity, motivation and quality of life. Each leader and each team has objectives, desires and needs that need to be answered and, on the other hand, organizations also have expectations regarding the professional performance of their workers to reach their goals and be successful.
The predominant leadership style in organizations will be reflected in the work environment, in professional relationships and in the organization’s performance. If the leader develops anxiety at high levels, all these components can be compromised.
It is undeniable that, from a psychological point of view, work affects the levels of fulfillment and motivation of people, in the search for the satisfaction of needs, in the increase of perception and knowledge and in the possibility of the personal development of each employee. However, it can also mean suffering, wear and tear, tension, alienation and impairment of the employee’s physical and mental health.
Work, being an integral part of human existence, assumes different personal meanings, as well as its consequences for each employee. Relationships and professional experiences can lead to high levels of anxiety, reducing your well-being and quality of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes that the biggest source of stress and anxiety for adults is work stress.
T., through individual development sessions, became aware of his stress triggers and the potential impact it could have on himself and on others, despite not being perceived as such. After this understanding, T. began to implement progressive muscle relaxation strategies to reduce anxiety peaks and began to value his work more, asking his manager to alert him whenever something was not in accordance with what he intended. Thus, some strategies to deal with stress as a leader may include:
- Perform relaxation exercises, meditation and/or physical activity to reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety
- Focus on your professional performance and understand that you are doing your best
- Talk to a colleague about your fears
T. is now responsible for a team of 30 people, which, he confessed, brought him anxiety for fear of not meeting expectations. In the midst of the daily increase in work and pressure, he confesses that he always reserves a moment for focus in his schedule. “The impact of my stress on others was not yet being realized but it was a matter of time before I could keep this ‘secret’ anymore” (T.).
Article: P4S – People For Success
