Leading Through Times of High Pressure & Stress

To become an effective leader, you need to possess several essential capabilities—from influencing and inspiring others to making decisive actions. These traits are crucial in your daily leadership role and even more so during stressful times.

The challenging situations and crises you encounter throughout your career are likely to define you as a leader and possibly as a person. Your actions in these scenarios can affect how your employees and colleagues remember you.

When managers falter, their teams may also suffer, leading to reduced performance and lower morale. This can result in missed deadlines, errors, and potential customer loss—the exact opposite of what is needed during a crisis.

If you're in a leadership position, learning to control yourself and remain composed in challenging times will benefit you throughout your career. However, achieving this can be difficult.

Here are three techniques to help you manage your team during a crisis while staying calm.

1. Wait to Act

A leader responds to a situation calmly and with a well-considered plan. Before diving into problem-solving, take a deep breath and pause to gather your thoughts and assess the situation with clarity.

In a crisis, it's essential to remain calm—especially as the stakes increase or circumstances become more turbulent—before responding with an actionable plan to prevent mass panic.

2. Build a Strong Support System

Leaders rarely operate alone—great leaders surround themselves with people who maintain a grounded, calm presence.

To assemble a strong counsel, ensure those around you have strength of character. Are they confident in their viewpoints, yet open-minded and communicative? Do they support your vision? Besides possessing quality leadership values, they should have diverse experience and emotional intelligence to handle various responsibilities and help you lead effectively.

Ensure your management team is dependable so you can remain grounded and maintain equanimity. This helps in making the right decisions and navigating crises successfully.

It's often said that success doesn't occur in a vacuum. The effort your team puts in, along with their attitudes and ability to ask the right questions, can determine success, so consider this when building your support network.

3. Understand the Reality of the Situation

Recognizing the reality of a situation and acknowledging your limitations during a crisis is crucial, no matter how challenging it may be.

Understand that in the heat of the moment, no single leader can resolve the entire situation. Acting from your strongest, calmest self is better than taking the first reactive, immediate action.

While a problem may initially seem overwhelming, the best approach is to break it down step-by-step. This process can help you gain a clear understanding of the circumstances, allowing you to work closely with your counsel, prioritize your next steps, and delegate effectively.

Once you've established a plan, adhere to it and rely on yourself and your team to complete the tasks and achieve a successful resolution.

Leading by Example in High-Pressure Situations

As a leader, your behavior during challenging times serves as a strong model for your team. When you handle situations with composure, positivity, and responsibility, your team is likely to mirror those actions. Here’s how you can exhibit leadership under pressure:

Acknowledge the Problem:

Do not ignore or minimize the challenge. Whether it’s a significant project delay or a customer service crisis, your team needs to see that you recognize the issue and are prepared to tackle it. Openly acknowledging the problem paves the way for finding solutions.

Focus on Solutions, Not the Problem:

After identifying the issue, direct attention towards resolving it. Encourage your team to brainstorm innovative solutions instead of fixating on what went wrong. Your role is to steer the team towards action, preventing the problem from immobilizing them.

Take Responsibility:

An essential aspect of leadership is taking responsibility for the situation, even if it’s not solely your fault. By accepting the challenge, you foster a culture of accountability and demonstrate to your team that you’re there to lead, not to shift blame.

Communicate Clearly:

In high-pressure situations, clear communication is crucial. Keep your team updated about the developments, actions being taken, and future expectations. Transparent communication alleviates anxiety and ensures everyone is on the same page.

Managing Stress and Maintaining Clarity

In tough moments, it’s easy to let stress cloud your judgment and influence your decision-making processes in ways that may not serve you or your team well. As a leader, it’s essential to develop effective strategies for managing stress and maintaining mental clarity, particularly when faced with challenges that demand quick thinking and decisive action.

Here are a few comprehensive ways to stay grounded and ensure that you lead with confidence and clarity:

Take a Step Back:

When you’re confronted with a challenge or a crisis, it’s tempting to jump into action right away, motivated by a sense of urgency and the need to resolve issues swiftly. However, taking a brief moment to step back and assess the situation can provide you with invaluable perspective. This pause allows you to gather your thoughts, consider the various facets of the challenge, and avoid making impulsive decisions that could lead to further complications.

Even a short pause can give you the clarity you need to think through your next steps, enabling you to approach the situation with a more level-headed mindset and a strategic plan of action.

Prioritize and Delegate:

In high-pressure situations, everything can seem urgent and demanding your immediate attention. However, not all tasks carry the same weight or urgency. Take the time to prioritize the most critical tasks that require your direct involvement and focus. By identifying these priorities, you can allocate your energy and resources more effectively.

Additionally, consider delegating responsibilities to your team members where appropriate. Empowering your team not only alleviates some of the pressure from your shoulders but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among your colleagues. This collaborative approach allows you to concentrate on the tasks that truly require your immediate attention while ensuring that other aspects of the situation are being managed competently by your team.

Take Care of Yourself:

It is crucial to recognize that stress can take a significant toll on both your body and mind. In order to lead effectively, you must first ensure that you are in a healthy state, physically and mentally. Make a conscious effort to take care of yourself by getting enough rest, as sleep is essential for cognitive function and emotional regulation. Incorporate regular breaks into your schedule to recharge and reset your mind, allowing yourself moments of respite amidst the chaos.

Additionally, practicing mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or even light exercise can substantially enhance your ability to maintain composure. These practices help center your thoughts, reduce anxiety, and promote a clearer mindset, ultimately enabling you to lead with a clear head and a steady hand, regardless of the challenges you face.

10 Things to Avoid Saying:

⛔ Avoid saying: "You're overreacting"

➡️ Reason: It dismisses emotions and hinders communication

✅ Try saying: "This seems stressful - how can we reduce the pressure?"

⛔ Avoid saying: "This is unacceptable"

➡️ Reason: It instills fear without offering constructive feedback

✅ Try saying: "I notice some issues - let's collaborate to enhance this"

⛔ Avoid saying: "I'll just do it myself"

➡️ Reason: It erodes trust and limits employee development

✅ Try saying: "Let's go through this together so you can handle it next time"

⛔ Avoid saying: "Why aren't you done yet?"

➡️ Reason: It's unproductive and puts them on the defensive

✅ Try saying: "How's it going? Do you need any assistance?"

⛔ Avoid saying: "I don't have time for this right now"

➡️ Reason: It makes the other person feel undervalued

✅ Try saying: "I'm busy at the moment, but let's schedule a time to discuss it"

⛔ Avoid saying: "You should already know how to do this"

➡️ Reason: It discourages employees from seeking help

✅ Try saying: "Let's review this together so you feel confident moving forward"

⛔ Avoid saying: "I need this ASAP"

➡️ Reason: Vague urgency causes stress without clarity

✅ Try saying: "Please complete this by X, and inform me in advance if you encounter any obstacles"

⛔ Avoid saying: "This needs to be perfect"

➡️ Reason: It creates unrealistic expectations and heightens anxiety

✅ Try saying: "Let's aim for high quality, but don't let perfection hinder progress"

⛔ Avoid saying: "I need you to be available 24/7"

➡️ Reason: It leads to burnout and resentment

✅ Try saying: "Given the urgency, let's establish clear and sustainable response time expectations"

⛔ Avoid saying: "I don't care how you feel, just get it done"

➡️ Reason: It overlooks the human aspect of work and harms morale

✅ Try saying: "I understand this is challenging, and I appreciate your effort - how can I assist?"

Words are important. Don't let stressful moments lead you to say things you'll regret. Pause and aim to respond constructively instead of reacting negatively.