The Leadership Secret to Staying Calm Under Pressure Here’s something you may not realize: your stress response isn’t just about the situation—it’s about your nervous system. When your nervous system is in fight-or-flight mode (what I call the Red Zone), it’s nearly impossible to think clearly, make sound decisions, or lead effectively. The key to staying calm under pressure? Learning to regulate your nervous system in the moment. One quick way to do this: Drop into your body. Next time you feel yourself spinning out, try this: 💚Pause whatever you’re doing. 💚Take a deep breath and place your attention on a sensation in your body (like your feet on the floor or the rise and fall of your breath). 💚Stay with that sensation for 10 seconds. Focusing on your body or breath for even 10 seconds can create a noticeable shift in your nervous system. It interrupts the stress response by activating the parasympathetic system (the Green Zone) and bringing you back into the present moment. While deeper regulation might take more time, those 10 seconds are often enough to create space for clarity, calm, and intentional action. The beauty of this practice is its simplicity—you can do it anywhere, anytime. Whether you're stepping into a high-stakes meeting or navigating a tense moment, it’s a powerful way to reset and lead from a place of grounded confidence. The best leaders don’t just manage stress; they master it. What’s one moment today where you can practice this? #LeadershipTips #StressManagement #MindfulLeadership #CalmUnderPressure #ResilientLeadership #ExecutivePerformance #WellBeingAtWork
Isabelle Tierney, M.A., LMFT’s Post
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✋ You DO NOT need to spend your life in reactivity. (There I’ve said it.) 😉 Why? Well, in my experience, leaders and their managers often think that putting out fires, or reacting on adrenaline are the markers of ‘getting stuff done’ — But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Because spending your life in reactive mode is what saps your energy, spikes your cortisol, drains your inspiration — and STOPS you from achieving bigger and better things. (Plus, it’s no good for your blood pressure.) Now, one of the biggest pieces of my coaching work is listening to understand to learn what triggers this unhealthy habit… And here’s what that looks like: 1️⃣ Helping you and your managers to imagine what it would be (and feel) like if you weren't in reactive mode… 2️⃣ Guiding you and your managers to eliminate a habit before adopting a new one, and utilizing a support system as you shift out of those continuous reactive states... 3️⃣ Introducing mindshifts, which is a proactive way to alleviate stress, create greater confidence, and get intentional with your communication. The positive impact of those slow deep breaths and a pause is almost instant. Now, is that what any leader wants? P.S. The National Institute of Health has marked April as Stress Awareness month… (And you didn’t think I was going to head into May without mentioning it, right?) 😉 So, take a moment today to think about where in your business you’re putting out fires — and instead where you could delegate, develop or decide to insert that pause for a healthier response (and a healthier you!)… And if you need some support, DM me today. #Leadership #Management #PersonalDevelopment #Inspiration #Motivation #Stress
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💪🏼 😶🌫️Conquering Decision Overwhelm: Mastering the Art of Clear Thinking 💭 In today’s fast-paced world, decision overwhelm is a common challenge that can paralyse even the most competent professionals. Recognising the signs early can be the key to navigating through the clutter and making effective choices. 7 Key Indicators You're Struggling with Decision Overwhelm (and How to Overcome Them): 1. 😩 Procrastination: Constantly delaying decisions, even on trivial matters. - Overcome it by: Setting specific deadlines for decisions and breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps. 2. 🤔 Indecisiveness: Difficulty making choices and second-guessing every option. - Overcome it by: Limiting options to a few viable choices and using a pros and cons list to evaluate them. 3. 😰 Anxiety: Feeling anxious or stressed when faced with multiple decisions. - Overcome it by: Identify the causes for your anxiety and stress in order to address the root issue. 4. 😴 Fatigue: Mental and physical exhaustion from overthinking every choice. - Overcome it by: Taking regular breaks to rest and recharge, ensuring adequate sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet. 5. 📚 Information Overload: Consuming excessive information without reaching a conclusion. - Overcome it by: Setting a time limit for research and focusing on the most relevant information. 6. 😤 Irritability: Becoming easily frustrated or irritable due to decision fatigue. - Overcome it by: Delegating some decisions to others and establishing a routine to manage your time effectively. 7. 🙈 Avoidance: Completely avoiding decisions, leading to missed opportunities. - Overcome it by: Prioritising decisions based on their importance and impact, and starting with smaller, less daunting decisions to build confidence. Taking control of decision overwhelm starts with awareness. By recognising these signs, you can implement strategies to streamline your decision-making process, reduce stress, and enhance productivity. Prioritise, delegate, and take breaks to clear your mind. https://lnkd.in/dhDyzpCY #DecisionMaking #MentalHealth #Productivity #StressManagement #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #ProfessionalDevelopment
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What choices are driving your "crazy-busyness"? 😐 🤔 If you are unaware, you are likely also not aware of what choices you must make to break free of this busyness loop. And you are far from alone! Our busy brains are great at lying to us, especially when the going gets tough, and we are inclined to believe them. As busyness becomes interlinked with our identities and sense of worth, it becomes even harder to break free. According to leadership expert Dorie Clark, we often mix up the manifestations of busyness, such as video calls and emails, with the underlying causes, that keeps us trapped in a cycle. These causes often fall within the following three areas; 1. Achieving a status symbol - feeling busy makes us feel popular and important! 2. Avoiding uncertainty - brain hates uncertainty, and busy makes us feel in control 3. Numbness - attempting to drown our problems in work. To break free, we must acknowledge the root cause that drives our busyness and start making choices aligned with our values. "But busyness is often loneliness, frustration, and a life not fully in our control". What choices have you stopped making since becoming "crazy-busy"? 🤔 There is a link to Dories TED Conferences talk in the comments! #leadership #busyness #stress #stressmanagement #worklife
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Stay calm. Every problem has a solution! Whatever the situation, never act or sound helpless, even when it is hopeless. As a doctor in the emergency room or a leader in the board room, here are five reasons why staying cool, calm, and collected is crucial: 1. Clarity Amidst Chaos When everything around you is falling apart, a calm mind is your most important asset. It helps you cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters, guiding your decisions, big or small. 2. Leadership by Example As a leader, your team looks to you for guidance. When you stay calm in adversity, you set an example for your team. Your composure can be contagious, inspiring resilience and confidence in others. 3. Stress is a Silent Saboteur Chronic stress can have a detrimental effect on your health, judgment, and overall performance. Staying calm is not just a short-term tactic but a long-term strategy for your well-being and success. 4. Solutions Over Sympathy While empathy is essential, dwelling on shared despair can be counterproductive. Instead, a calm leader focuses on solutions, moving forward rather than getting stuck in what can't be controlled. 5. The Power of Perception In uncertain times, people need reassurance that everything will be okay. A leader who remains composed under pressure can inspire confidence in clients, investors, and colleagues that there is always a way forward. ___________________________________________ So, next time you're faced with a crisis, remember that calmness is your superpower. Could you share your story on how staying calm in the storm has helped you turn obstacles into opportunities? Which of the reasons above is your favorite? Please don't hesitate to like, comment, and repost if you find this post helpful. Follow me, Ikechukwu Dominic Okoh, for more insights. Turn on 🔔. Subscribe to our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/dsFyB94n. It is published every Monday. Have a great weekend! #StayCalm #Leadership #StressManagement #PowerOfPerception #Opportunities #Success
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𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸, 𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀, 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗨𝗽 What motivates you to take the step? Andy Riise says leaders and athletes come to him to get unstuck. This makes sense to me. If I’m stuck, I want help getting unstuck. Steve Ware posed this related question last week: Do you prefer a kick up the backside or a cuddle? Most people commented they want a little of both. In a recent poll I asked what gets in the way of relieving your stress: 40% Overwhelm 33% Too busy caring for others 27% Not sure where to start Whether you are overwhelmed, not sure where to start, Don’t have time, feeling stuck, or running ragged Start SMALL Follow the 1% rule. 1% improvement each day yields 37% improvement in a year. As James Clear reminds us Every small action casts a vote for the person we want to become. Julie Hutchinson reminds us that if we make an accountability appointment with someone else, then we are 95% likely to take the step. I’m recommitting here to all of you to one minute of calming breath first thing in the morning and last thing at night. In 10 days, I’ll teach four micro pivot practices, less than one minute each. Turn these into habits and reduce your stress forever. (see link in the comments). What small action are you taking today to shape the future you are living into? I’m here for you and for all of us to take the next step. Image: After Skool take on Atomic Habits by James Clear. 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆, 𝘂𝗻𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹! 🔥🦋 #HabitsMatter #Motivation #SomaticLeadership
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This past weekend, courtesy of the Svenska institutet I gained invaluable insights into Self Leadership🚀 and learned an effective technique for managing stress. According to Kegan and Lahey (2016), "The single largest cause of work burnout isn't work overload, but working too long without experiencing any personal development." 💡 Self-leadership revolves around three core components: 1️⃣ Self-awareness 2️⃣ Emotional awareness 3️⃣ Compassion To truly develop these capabilities, focus on: - Increasing self-awareness and consciousness - Enhancing your ability to regulate emotions and make long-term, functional decisions - Cultivating compassion—towards yourself and your environment, fostering empathy, trust, and presence At Optimal Performance, you'll find yourself energized, focused, and fully committed. This is where you encounter “positive stress,” which propels growth and creativity 🌱. I’ve shared a few slides below highlighting these key takeaways. Apply them in your work or studies and let’s strive for optimal performance together! 💪🏾 #SelfLeadership #PersonalDevelopment #EmotionalIntelligence #StressManagement #OptimalPerformance #LeadershipGrowth #CompassionInLeadership #Mindfulness #SelfAwareness #ContinuousImprovement #BurnoutPrevention #WorkLifeBalance #PositiveStress #SISGP
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Founder & Executive Chairman at QI Group| WEF Speaker & Contributor | Author | Mentor | Empowering young entrepreneurs
Have you ever noticed how calm is contagious? In the midst of chaos, disruption, and trying times, maintaining your composure has a ripple effect on those around you. If you are in a leadership position, you must be the proverbial eye of the storm, instilling calm, not by force, but by example. Keeping your wits about you and staying relaxed is key. Let others be the agitators, stirring up the irrational. Your job is to guide them to safety. When calm emanates from the person in charge, its effects are truly contagious. This calmness will spread throughout your team, offering solace and paving the way for effective solutions. In stressful situations, a calm leader can transform panic into productivity, fear into focus, and chaos into creativity. Here are some ways to embody and spread calm: - Your behaviour sets the tone. If you remain calm and collected, your team is more likely to follow suit. - Clear, concise, and reassuring communication can mitigate anxiety and uncertainty. - Practice mindfulness to stay grounded. A leader who is present and attentive can make more thoughtful decisions. - Show empathy and offer support to your team. Understanding their concerns and providing reassurance helps maintain a calm environment. - Focus on solutions. Instead of getting bogged down by problems, direct your team’s focus towards finding solutions. This proactive approach reduces stress and fosters a sense of control. There is a reason why the poster “Keep Calm and Carry On” is still in offices all around the globe. Your calmness can be the anchor in the storm, guiding your team through adversity to achieve success. #Leadership #CalmInChaos #EffectiveLeadership #StayCalm #LeadByExample #TeamInspiration #CrisisManagement #MindfulLeadership
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𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 ... write about Breathing yesterday? Because it matters so much in our work day too. How??? Monday morning today, I'm sure your inbox is flooded, meetings are back-to-back, and tough decisions need to be made. Am I right or am I right? Well in moments like this, most of us fall into shallow, rapid breathing— our body’s natural response to stress. The problem? That stress-driven breath not only increases anxiety, but it also clouds our thinking and affects how we lead. As leaders, our decisions, tone, and energy set the pace for our teams. When we feel overwhelmed, we pass that energy on. But you know what , 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱! Yes you read it right. Before stepping into a tough meeting or making that critical decision, taking a few slow, deep breaths can shift you from stress to clarity. It calms your nervous system, sharpens your focus, and helps you respond rather than react. 👉Here’s a tip for your busy day: Next time you feel pressure building up, pause for just 30 seconds. Breathe in deeply, hold for a moment, then slowly exhale. This one simple act can help you think clearer, stay composed, and lead with confidence. Remember, leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about how we 𝗮𝗿𝗲. And it starts with something as fundamental as the breath. ---- ✨ Want to explore how mindful breathing can elevate your leadership game? Let’s connect! PC - to the creator, I don't know #MindfulLeadership #leadership #StressManagement #WorkplaceWellness #LeadershipTips #MondayMotivation #leadershipdevelopment #happymee #drmansitalwar
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🔹 Embracing Calm in the Face of Uncertainty 🔹 Alan Watts once said, “No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen.” In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in worries about the future. However, as Watts wisely points out, anxiety does not influence the outcome of what is to come. Instead, it often detracts from our ability to act effectively in the present. As professionals and individuals, focusing on what we can control and letting go of unnecessary stress can lead to clearer decision-making and a more productive mindset. By embracing the present moment and maintaining a calm approach, we can navigate uncertainties with greater resilience and effectiveness. Let’s remind ourselves to stay grounded, trust the process, and channel our energy into actions that matter now. How do you manage anxiety and stay focused on the present? Share your strategies in the comments! #Leadership #Mindfulness #StressManagement #ProfessionalGrowth #Wellbeing #PositivityLovesCompany
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According to Gallup, 44% of the workforce experiences stress daily. 😰 Have you noticed? I experience people’s stress in every interaction, every conversation I have — professionally and personally. 👁️ In today’s fast-paced world, where uncertainty grows by the hour and digital transformation adds to the complexity of work-life, we are harming each other — often without even realizing it. 😓 Constantly being on the go and exposed to information overload overwhelms and stresses the brain, triggering deep-seated fears. 🧠👀 And when fear takes over, it makes us think about ourselves: 😱 • We go from "we" to “me, me, me” • We get preoccupied with “what’s in it for me!” • We behave in ego-driven ways and manipulate 😏 • We chase others’ approval, validation, and recognition 🙌🏾 • We either make ourselves small or overcompensate 😬 The thing is... Our fear-driven behavior doesn’t just hurt us — it harms everyone around us: • The individual • The team • The organization • The company • Society as a whole 💼🌍 We need to help each other turn things around. 🔄 Since we need to coexist, all of us share the responsibility to create a healthy environment to exist in. Each one of us starting by handling the stress we experience daily instead of taking it out on others! Luckily, we all can! You can start today by: • Slowing down (giving yourself "brain breaks") 🧠 • Building your mental and emotional resilience 🧠 • Getting crystal clear on your aspirations, goals, deliverables, and priorities ✨ • Strengthening your ability to self-regulate 🧘♂️ • Connecting with people heart-to-heart ❤️ It’s time to make a change. 🔄 Don’t you think? How do you manage stress in your daily life? What steps have you taken to reduce stress in your workplace? Ready to stop the harm and enhance your ability to lead in a world filled with uncertainty? 🧠 🛜 Book a free mini coaching session with me, and let’s explore how you can begin 🌱 your leadership upgrade: https://buff.ly/4g97BHN I’d love to connect with you. ✨ #ConsciousLeadership #Stress #Resilience
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