By J. Mason
Online Career Tips Editor
The common conception is, “the higher you are, the harder you’ll fall.” In terms of responsibility and reliability this is true, but in terms of stress and higher cortisol levels it’s not.
Through a recent study by Harvard it’s been discovered that leaders may be less stressed than their direct reports. This is a direct result of the power they have, and a sense of control. The psychological explanation for higher cortisol levels in non-leaders is the possibility of instability in their role. The more power you have, the greater sense of control and confidence. In order for non-leader employees to reduce their stress levels I believe they need to develop a higher threshold for stress.
Some of us are born as a big ball of anxiety. If Woody Allen is as calm as George Clooney compared to you, then you’re part of this group. Unless you’re a comedian, you’ll need to turn around this aversion to control.
One of the best ways to do this is by observing. How do the leaders in your company handle stress? You may pick up on their tactics more by being a silent observer. Take note at their calm demeanor. Do they curse every time their computer crashes? Is there a look of panic on their face when they’re 20 minutes to deadline and nowhere near done? If the answer is no, then those are good examples to follow.
Panic doesn’t do any good. Over time it results in high blood pressure, tiredness, loss of motivation, and aversion to sunlight; OK, that last one was a stretch. It can stunt your growth in the company. So, find a “lid” for your anxiety. There are times to get stressed, and then there are situations that make you look inexperienced. Find a mentor within leadership to model your controls after. In the meantime, keep a couple of stress balls at your desk and keep the cursing and hair pulling to a minimum.
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