It’s time to speak up about stress…

How stressed are you, right now, on a scale of one to 10?

I was recently asked this question by a colleague. I ranked myself 3.5.

I believe some pressure is healthy. And I also believe in that well-known adage: “If you want something done, ask a busy person.”

However, high levels of long-term stress carry huge risks. It can lead to burnout, heart problems or high blood pressure.

At Shell, safety is our number one priority. This includes taking steps to protect both the mental and physical well-bring of everyone who works here. Above all, this is to help ensure quality of life for our people and their families.

Moreover, from a business perspective, I think long-term stress skews judgement and impedes our ability to make clear decisions. We can become too risk averse… or too risk prone.

Many minds

How we cope under pressure is personal. Everyone is wired differently.

I’ve seen talented people around me collapse under work deadlines or workloads.

Even talking about stress or attending a well-intended stress management course can make people feel more stressed. So instead of thinking about stress, I like to think about resilience.

Much of that comes from knowing that you’re well supported. These days, I am lucky enough to have amazing people in my business.

We have a long-term plan and we carry it out, in line with what both investors and customers expect from us.

Sourcing stress

So, where then does that “3.5 level” of stress come from? Some of it is rooted in the need to maintain high safety and ethical standards in the sizeable business I run.  

Some of it is found in those incidents that conflict with my core values: for example, if I become aware of any issue related to safety or ethics.

And some of it lies in a sense that Shell’s desire to be a force for good in the energy transition isn’t always recognised.

If you ask me how I cope, again it’s about building resilience.

First and foremost, I spend as much quality time as possible with my family. As a parent, I feel you’re only ever as happy as your unhappiest child. And, thankfully, my unhappiest child is pretty happy at the moment…

Home is such a different environment to that of work. The conversations are different and so are the dynamics. This provides a good mental break.

And, I’ve learned, it’s important that when you’re with your family – or friends – that you’re really with them.

That means not reaching for the phone or looking at emails all the time. Keeping time for other things – even during the work week. And especially at weekends or during holidays.

Fitness is also important to me. Running or playing football always clears my head.

Shifting perspectives

I always expected that the higher up I went in my career, the more stress I’d encounter. But that hasn’t always been the case.

Of course, experience helps you to deal with pressure and to put things into perspective. But, in some ways, the more senior you are, the more you control your work, agenda and resources.

That said, I try to stay aware of the impact my actions can have on others. I aim to avoid making spontaneous demands of people. For example, I’ll only ask for more details – which means more work for someone else – when it’s important, rather than simply to satisfy my personal curiosity.

Simple rules around work life can create space to build resilience. If you’ve had a two-hour intense meeting and want to spend five minutes reading a newspaper article, go for it.

Don’t feel guilty about leaving the office early on a Friday to meet up with friends. You’re building resilience. In an increasingly fast-paced society, driven by digital connectivity, this is ever more important.

Managing expectations

There’s also a lot to be said for taking control. For example, saying “I’m not going to meet this deadline” and letting others know. Or deciding not to take your laptop home.

I think 3.5 is a good level – enough to keep me sharp, but not too much to be negative. So how can you get to 3.5? I’d say it’s about finding the right balance, making time for life outside work and taking control of your time inside work.