We talk a lot about big goals, opportunities, and seeking growth as leaders. However, the reality of leadership is that it can be challenging, stressful, and sometimes overwhelming.
It’s not always easy, simple, or clear and straightforward. Growing in your leadership journey will push you out of your comfort zone, demand more from you, and require you to learn new skills in real-time.
Fear not, this week in Learning to Lead LIVE on Clubhouse, we talked about what to do when you feel overwhelmed, stressed out, or under pressure. Here are a few takeaways:
Know your triggers. It’s important to know when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. When you know what your triggers are you can adjust as needed.
Focus on what really matters. This is an ongoing practice, but especially important when you feel like your calendar gets too demanding. Check in on what you are spending your time on. Is it important to you, your team, your business? It is taking you where you want to go?
Delegate. This is a hard lesson to learn but critical to leadership. As your role expands time does not increase. Delegate and empower your team. By investing in them you are investing in their career and opening up space for you to focus on different things.
Start a 15 minute daily huddle with your leaders. Make this time immovable and set a strict agenda. Share key updates and focuses for the day including what you will be working on as well.
Practice vulnerability. Teach your team what it means to be a leader and navigate challenges. We don’t need to always be perfect or have all the answers. By sharing our experiences with our team we are helping them learn and grow with us.
Share more of your work and priorities with your leaders. Utilize tools like Jira or Trello to collaborate and instil transparency. Reduce crunch times by building in time for regular leadership work such as annual reviews, audits, or budget planning.
Color code and block time on your calendar. Color coding allows you to quickly see immovable priority meetings like senior leadership meetings and 1:1s. Blocking time for work, mindfulness, mental wellness, and investing in your team is critical to reinforcing focus and priorities.
Ask for help with you need it. Whether that be your peers, leaders, team, or personal board of directors. Work with others and fight the urge to have it all figured out on your own.
Start small. If you are feeling stressed, or your calendar is completely packed, start with small adjustments. Take breaks even if it’s only a few minutes, start blocking out time on your calendar even if it’s a few months out. Challenge meetings that you don’t need to be in, or request shortening evening by a few minutes to gain back some time.
When I think about the pressures of leadership I can’t help but think of the song Surface Pressure from the movie Encanto. It’s a catchy song if you haevn’t heard it. Take a listen and consider the lyrics in relation to this week’s topic. The character Luisa is under so much pressure trying to take care of everyone, and isn’t making time for rest, breaks, or to do the things that bring her joy.
Leadership is incredibly rewarding, but it’s not always easy. It is a journey of continuous learning and growth. Welcome help from others, explore new ways of working, and embrace the power of teamwork.
If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together
Quote of the Week
The courage of leadership is giving others the chance to succeed even though we bear the responsibility for getting things done. - Simon Sinek
Resources
Jira: a popular tool for managing work across teams that has many features including a visual board to easily see priorities and progress
Trello: another tool for tracking projects individually or as a team
How to Keep Your Cool in High-Stress Situations: When faced with a high-stress situation, one that even feels threatening, it can feel like we don’t have control over our response. Research has shown that our bodies can instinctively go into a “fight-or-flight” reaction. As a leader, the more effectively you can self-regulate these reactions the better you can lead and help others.
Leaders, Don’t Be Afraid to Talk About Your Fears and Anxieties: Now more than ever, leaders are struggling with anxieties, fears, and all sorts of difficult emotions. This article covers types of leaders and the best ways to handle these internal struggles at work.
Talks to help you manage stress: Sometimes life can feel like a bit of a mess, but these talks are here to help you de-stress.
Events
The Global Leadership Summit - February 11: Don’t miss this unique one-day transformational experience filled with business transformation strategies, leadership wisdom, world-class case studies, real-life experiences and best practices from Fortune 500 companies. Practical skills that you can apply on Monday morning.
The 2022 Virtual California Conference for Women - March 2, 2022: Renew. Reconnect. Re-ignite. Inspiration, Motivation, and Connection
WORLD WOMAN HOUR : 60 Women : 60 Stories : 60 Minutes - March 8, 2022: 60 women x 60 x stories x 60 ways to lead a socially powered movement to inspire one million women and girls to follow their dreams and ambition.
Learning to Lead LIVE
The full replay of the Learning to Lead LIVE discussion is available now on clubhouse.
Learning to Lead will be LIVE on Clubhouse next week (Saturday, February 5 @ 9:30 am PST). The topic will be announced on Wednesday (February 2) so be sure to subscribe!
Networking & Job Openings
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