All Stressed Up, With No Place To Go!, by Phillip Van Hooser, CSP

Sound familiar? For most of the people I know, these scenarios are far from the realm of fiction. Personal and professional pressures, responsibilities, deadlines, and change constitute the current realities of life. How do leaders go about managing these constant experiences that frequently prove so stressful? The basic human stress reaction has been commonly referred to as the "fight or flight syndrome." Simply put, mentally we decide if we should defend ourselves against the stressful challenges and situations we face or flee from them. Past experience tells us that we can run, but we cannot hide. Therefore, the best way to fend off the negative effects of stress is to mount a deliberate counter offensive.

It`s time to do battle. Consider these simple, yet effective techniques for managing personal stress. They work for me.

1. TREAT YOURSELF TO DAILY EXERCISE. This is by far the best single activity for managing stress. Since stress is a mental process that manifests itself physically, the best way to neutralize the effects is to work them off -- literally. Walk, swim, bike, or jog. The activity itself is not critical. What is important is that there is regular, sustained activity. In this case, it is important to "sweat the small stuff."

2. BE SURE TO EAT RIGHT. This advice comes directly from one who grew up believing, "if it ain`t fried, it ain`t fit to eat!" My Southern roots run deep and I still believe fried pork chops are heaven sent. But, I now recognize that most things require moderation. The wrong kind of fuel in our car certainly affects the vehicle`s performance. The same is true for the foods we eat.

3. ASK YOURSELF, "IS IT WORTH IT?" Much of the stress we experience today is self-inflicted. Too often, we are more concerned with conforming to someone else`s expectation of who we should be, and as a result, we forget what is actually most important to us. When faced with personally stressful situations, take a minute to ask yourself, "Is it worth it?" If the answer is "yes," then proceed with energy and unrestrained enthusiasm. But, if the answer is "no," then take the time to seriously reevaluate your commitment to the leadership process. I am not suggesting that anyone run out today and quit their job. However, I encounter individuals who find themselves in positions of leadership who have concluded that the process of leading, for them, is no longer worth the effort. For their own good, and that of their followers, I encourage them to step aside and make room for others willing to accept the challenges and stressors of the leadership effort.

©Copyright Phillip Van Hooser, CSP - All Rights Reserved.