Written by: Sally Higoe, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Working with a team is one tough job, and much more so if you are its leader. Your proverbial plate often ends up full and sometimes overflowing, and it can be very easy for pressure to mount up. The pressure will easily transfer to your team, who are the ones who will end up doing the work needed to achieve your pressing objectives.
Pressure is one thing, then there's the ensuing stress; this can get in the way of effective communications, which might result in strained workplace relationships if not managed properly.
As a team leader, how should you handle the pressure that you will have to face time and again, and how can you maintain effective team communication despite the stress?
Can’t think of an answer yet? That’s fine! Giddy up, buttercup, and read on — we'll look into this in this article and explore ways to help you handle stress in the face of mounting pressure.
Chill out!
Chilling out doesn’t mean leaving work and doing absolutely nothing. It's about staying calm in the face of pressure that is so much easier said than done. Avoid jumping straight into the problem and thinking of a solution while your thoughts are still in chaos. Take a break, need a 5-minute smoke break? Or maybe a cup of coffee? Go for it! Then get back to work with a clearer mind.
A strong support system is also essential in overcoming your mental panic. As such, be sure to surround yourself with team members with contagiously strong characters, the likes of which can help calm you down in the face of crisis and even do something to lighten the mood.
Be open to input
It is unhealthy to assume that you know everything about your current stressful situation. This could also leave a negative impression. No one wants to be tagged as ‘Mr. or Ms. Know-It-All’ in a sarcastic manner. It is the easiest way to overlook obvious solutions and shut yourself to suggestions that might help resolve whatever issues you may have. In that regard, it helps that you keep yourself open to criticisms, thoughts, opinions, and suggestions from your team.
Be sure to ask your team in a way that does not only make you sound nice but also invites honest, constructive opinions. Gather their input in an organised manner instead of collecting it haphazardly such that it instead adds to your mental disarray.
Empathise
Remember that your team members are humans too. Communications can suffer if you treat your team members like programmable tools. Just like you, there could be times when they feel ecstatic, and there would be times when they could be under the weather. Assume that they feel the same as you do during any stressful situation, and if they are behaving in an undesirable way, consider that they have a reason for the way they act.
Avoid making premature judgments and accusative remarks, no matter how subtle, and be empathetic in every conversation. Being understanding and sensitive to your team member's feelings can help you facilitate more effective communication, regardless of the intensity of the situation.
Focus on what's relevant
Keep your focus on things that are relevant to the issues on hand and not segue to irrelevant topics. Leaders can also have a bad habit of tackling strategies that have not worked for similar problems in the past; avoid this and, instead, focus on assessing possible solutions.
Brainstorm with your team and figure out what can possibly work, and don't discuss approaches that you know are not suitable for the situation. Look at the available data and identify what you can use, then take advantage of it to formulate an approach to the problem. In doing so, you keep team communications within the scope of the project. Forums could be a great way to bond too! You can insert icebreakers or talk about your next trip to the pub together.
The big picture is where it's at
The big picture might sometimes be a little too big but do be sure to keep your eyes fixed on it. Take a step back, relax, and look at the entire situation without focusing on the minute details. Ask yourself about the relevance of your decisions and see to it that they not only serve your goal of finding the right solution but can also be useful to your clients, team, and the organisation as a whole. This should prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and help you see problems and set goals that you can clearly communicate with your team.
It is imperative for leaders to train themselves to manage pressure and be able to effectively communicate with their team regardless of the situation. This is a crucial leadership skill that will help make you an asset to your organisation and a person your team can look up to. And don’t hesitate to seek valuable insights on how you can improve as a leader.
Sally Higoe, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Sally is uniquely world-experienced in building resilience, emotional fitness, and quality sustainable practices in leadership. Her experience across multiple countries leading high-performing teams in high-pressure outlying remote environments has amplified her ability to know what it takes to connect a conscious leader to their team, with outstanding results.
Having spent decades on diverse projects in every climate imaginable, Sally discovered the critical aspects of authentic leadership and team alignment. She has now blended research-based, proven methodology with her pragmatic approach and ability to 'be herself' to create the transformative Align & Shine program. There, she guides formerly flustered, confused, and internally insecure leaders, to tap into their true classic selves, without the need to conform to outside pressures, helping them become bold, present, courageous, and energized leaders who genuinely connect with their team AND their business.
Sally is co-author of Resilience in Leadership, Pt 1 of the book series, leader of both community and international hardship projects, and accredited in scientifically proven Human Behavioural Profiling and Meta Dynamics ' thinking-based methodology, adding to her Practitioner of Coaching credentials.
Most importantly though, Sally, Founder of Team Resilience Method, is now on a mission to show striving leaders how to shine, gain clarity and create a ripple of positive change, from the inside out.
