How does one lead with strength and authority when it feels like everything around them is falling apart or going to? How can one motivate and inspire when their heart is racing miles a minute?
Have you asked yourself these questions in an attempt to show your leader-like attitude when you feel anything but?
As a leader, your response to stress manifests itself in the following ways:
- Overthinking about the threat of the unknown
- Overwhelming Fear of failing
- Fear of not being able to live up to expectations
- Feeling as if you are alone and it that it has to stay that way to prove yourself
Not knowing what’s about to happen next can throw you off-kilter.
The Amygdala Hijack
The fight or flight response that leaders experience overrules their brain functions. Also dubbed as the amygdala hijack by neuroscientists, leadership anxiety surrounds you during challenging situations because you are simply afraid you might not live up to your full potential.
Coping Strategies – Kicking Anxiety to the Curb
- Acknowledge Your Anxiety: Sweeping things under the rug never solved anything. Your first step to becoming a focused leader is to accept that something is out of your control. Identifying your triggers & acknowledging your anxiety is the first step towards managing your anxiety.
- Practice Mindfulness: Meditation and mindfulness go hand in hand. Take deep breaths to calm yourself and then focus on the ‘here and now’ rather than thinking about “worst-case scenarios.” Right now, all you need to do is give your best.
- Journal: Writing down your anxious thoughts will make them less daunting and you will realize that you were worrying over something that actually doesn’t need you to worry. It’s a great way to not just meet your fears but also work on them.
- Build a Support System: Family members, friends, a coach, a therapist, or a mentor can be part of your support system that helps you eliminate those stress-inducing mental blocks. Confide in these people so that you can unburden yourself and think more clearly.
- Indulge in Self-Care: Adopt a healthy diet and start exercising. Simply pick up a hobby that you love most and add it to your daily routine. Sleep on time so that you wake up energized in the morning. Plan your version of “me” time, such as listening to music, watching movies, reading a novel, painting, etc. Choose anything that soothes your soul and makes you feel liberated.
An important point to remember would be that your anxiety makes you think about what could happen, not what will happen. Although your anxious thoughts feel very real, the fact is that being anxious about something doesn’t mean it will come true.