Today’s complex and fast-paced world can be very stressful at times. It’s important to learn how to cope with stress, not only for your well being, but for those around you. Many great leaders rose to the top due partly to their ability to stay calm under pressure. As your responsibility increases, it becomes continually more important to develop tools and techniques that allow you to stay calm and reduce stress.
Here are seven ways to stay calm under pressure:
Be prepared: Eventually you will be put under stress; it’s just a matter of when. Use articles like this one to prepare yourself for those stressful times. Additionally, by utilizing proper planning you can minimize surprises. Superior organizational skills are essential to being prepared and by being prepared you can be the calm, cool leader you envision.
Breathe: During our “Presentation Excellence” class we teach students how to use good breathing techniques to lower stress prior to public speaking. By using proper breathing you can stay calmer in any situation than you would otherwise. It is amazing how calming this simple technique can be when done correctly.
Exercise: As I gained responsibility during the early days of my career I started to feel stress. Initially, I was not sure what to do. As the stress increased I quickly learned that working out was a great stress management tool. My preferred workout routine has always been cardio kick-boxing, but any exercise will work. Walking, running, biking, lifting, or yoga; any of these will help you manage stress.
Be healthy: By getting enough sleep and eating healthy your body and mind will be in better condition to deal with the stress that comes up in your life. As an example, I use to drink massive amounts of Diet Coke all day long. One day I just went “cold turkey.” I had no idea how much the caffeine was causing highs and lows in my energy level until quitting. It’s much easier to stay calm and relaxed when you don’t overindulge.
Simplify your life: The more organized and uncluttered your life, the easier it is to stay calm and be prepared for surprises. In our “Master of Time” time management training we spend a significant amount of time reviewing how to take control of our lives.
Build your support network: Your network is not just for obtaining business advice. You should build a close network of people around you to support each other emotionally as well. Keep in mind relationships only work when you give, as well as receive. Be sure to stay in touch with those in your support network and offer to help when ever you can.
Stay positive: Over and over again you will see examples of where by being positive you can impact not only yourself, but those around you. There is a reason you should smile, even when speaking on the phone. When you think positive, you act positive and others around you will feel more motivated. Think about a time when you were on a plane, bus or train and a baby in a nearby seat began to smile. Suddenly everyone around you is smiling. Positive attitudes are contagious. Be the shining example of utilizing the power of being positive to reduce stress in yourself and those around you.
Eventually you will be put in stressful situations. Be prepared for these moments by learning how to stay calm. You will keep yourself physically and mentally healthy and have a positive impact on those around you. Additionally, you will be a better leader and more likely to keep moving up the ladder. Show the world you have the ability to stay calm and help those around you achieve more, even when the pressure is on. n
Andy Singer is the president of Singer Executive Development, a professional training and development company that helps optimize business performance of employees and executives. He can be reached at andy.singer@singerexecutivedevelopment.com.
