{"id":75937,"date":"2023-05-17T07:24:29","date_gmt":"2023-05-17T12:24:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=75937"},"modified":"2024-04-06T04:53:33","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T04:53:33","slug":"stress-management-for-leaders-improved-mental-health-for-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/stress-management-for-leaders-improved-mental-health-for-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Stress Management For Leaders, Improved Mental Health For The Workplace"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"In times of enduring uncertainty, managers can be the greatest ally to their team\u2019s mental health \u2013 or one of their greatest stressors. Often, the difference is a leader\u2019s ability to manage their own stress. While managers are typically focused on results, they must prioritize their own wellbeing to support their team\u2019s mental health and performance when the stakes are highest.<\/p>\n

April is\u00a0Stress Awareness Month<\/a>\u00a0and it\u2019s more relevant this year than ever. Amid recession fears and stubborn inflation, workplace stress reached an all-time high in 2022, a\u00a0Gallup State of the Global Workplace report<\/a>\u00a0found. More broadly, around three quarters of American adults said they have experienced health impacts due to stress in a 2022 study conducted by the\u00a0American Psychiatric Association<\/a>, including headaches, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.<\/p>\n

Managers are at the center of the storm. As they navigate their teams through the challenges of the past few years, their mental health has suffered. The impacts go all the way to the top. A\u00a0Deloitte<\/a>\u00a0study found that one third of executives are constantly struggling with fatigue, stress, and feelings of being overwhelmed, lonely, or depressed. The result, record numbers of\u00a0CEO resignations\u00a0<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The stress felt by managers can cascade to employees, impacting wellbeing, retention, and performance. Harvard Business Review finds managers can trigger anxiety in their employers through unusual or erratic actions, emotional volatility, excessive pessimism, and ignoring people\u2019s emotions. Managers that withdraw or are more \u201chot-headed\u201d have teams that are\u00a062%<\/a>\u00a0more likely to leave their jobs and\u00a056%<\/a>\u00a0more likely to stop participating.<\/p>\n

These statistics show that stress management is actually a key leadership skill. Managers who do it effectively can see improved relationships with their team,\u00a0better conflict resolution, and enhanced project management skills<\/a>. When\u00a0managers reduce their team\u2019s stress<\/a>, they can raise morale, deepen focus, increase productivity, reduce injuries and sick days, and improve physical health by lowering blood pressure and strengthening the immune system.<\/p>\n

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Granted, managers have many demands on their time, but taking simple steps to manage stress can have wide reaching benefits. A few ideas include:<\/p>\n