Here's how you can effectively manage stress while working towards deadlines as a servant leader.

As a servant leader working towards deadlines, effectively manage stress by prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. Start by breaking down projects into smaller, manageable parts and delegate tasks to team members based on their strengths and capacities, fostering a supportive environment. Empower your team by providing resources and guidance, ensuring they feel valued and heard. Practice and promote mindfulness and resilience within your team through breaks and stress-relief activities. Encourage open communication to identify stressors early, allowing for timely adjustments. Balancing empathy with accountability, focus on team well-being alongside goal achievement.

One thing I’ve found helpful is to use a robust project management system such as Monday.com, Excel can be used as well! Create a board for the larger project, and then chunk it down into smaller steps- looking at a week by week approach and create weekly goals.

While completing all tasks is obviously the desired end state, I find it important to utilize a "glass and rubber ball" juggling technique. Some tasks are rubber balls and some are glass. The if you drop the rubber ball it will most likely bounce and you can pick it back up later. The glass balls will shatter and therefore must be attended to. They may be the ones that feed future decisions. Understand that those who are the loudest, are not always the glass ones either. After all, if everyone is the most important, then no one is important.

Delegate tasks according to people’s strengths and interests. Discuss the tasks and determine if there’s an interest in the task, this empowers the employee to make the choice of taking it on and feeling excited about it!

When delegating tasks, it is of great importance to match the task to the talent. It is also equally important to understand the workload/schedule of who you assign to task to. After delegating, you should take the time for a short conversation with that person. On paper, he/she may look free but is that because he/she just finished up a grueling task or maybe a vacation is starting next week. Sometimes folks need a little breathing room and without an in person conversation, you will never know. If you continue to pile on requirements without receiving/offering feedback, you may look up and find that employee no longer working in your company.

Open communication enhances decision-making and accountability within a team. By sharing information openly, servant leaders empower team members to make informed choices and take ownership of their tasks. This practice encourages mutual respect and trust, as everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities. Additionally, open communication supports continuous feedback loops, enabling the team to quickly adapt to changes and improve processes. It also fosters a culture of learning and development, as team members feel safe to ask questions and seek guidance. Ultimately, this approach leads to a more engaged, motivated, and high-performing team.

Time block. Block lunch to get away from the computer, take a walk and eat a nutritious lunch. I frequently block my lunches and 10 minutes here and there sprinkled throughout the day to remind myself to step outside. If weather doesn’t permit then it’s a coffee break, or close your eyes for 10 minutes without any interruptions.

We have an onsite gym and I am lucky enough to be able to utilize it during the middle of the day. This is the best time for me to clear my head and remove some stress.

I think servant leaders do this best. It’s part of why we refer to them as servant leaders. Sometimes tough messages need to be delivered. It’s the role of a leader. But true servant leaders have a way where the message of accountability is also laced with care and concern for the whole person. I hear people talk about servant leadership a lot in my business. Many use it to describe their own leadership style. But true servant leadership is a journey. I have met only a few true servant leaders in my life. But I have met many amazing leaders who are people focused on their way to a life focused on service above self. It’s all a journey. We all fail, we’re human. Being transparent with genuine concern will win every time.

Balancing expectations is key to managing stress as a servant leader. This means setting realistic goals, communicating clearly, delegating tasks when needed, and being aware of one's own workload and boundaries. It also involves being open to adjusting expectations and seeking support if necessary.