First of all I would like to say, you are the greatest project you will ever work on. I invite you to remember that.
If you’re currently in an Executive Leadership role have a read of the next few paragraphs and remind yourself just how much you achieve in a day, what a broad range of responsibilities you have and the demands expected of you.
Reading this blog is a chance to reflect on you. To slow down and think about yourself.
Much like the coaching experience.
To think about what you need and to give yourself permission to explore it for a moment.
In this blog we’re going to look at the demands of the executive leadership role specifically and how coaching can help manage stress.
At the end of this blog you will find a few resources including how to look after your own managers and a free burnout assessment to assess your stress .
An executive role brings with it a high level of responsibility and a range of expectations. It can feel rewarding, relentless and at times overwhelming.
- What support do you have?
- How do you get an objective perspective?
- Who partners with you to consider your wellbeing so you can serve others?
Coaching provides executives with time and space to stop.
To slow down.
To think about what you want to do and how you want to do it. To consider what support and strategies you need to lead in the best possible way.
Coaches champion you. You have the answers. A coaches job is to get the best possible answers from you. Answers that serve you and help you serve others.
The end result is improved well-being and the feeling that you can do your role in the best way possible for you.
Clients often leave sessions using language such as ‘lighter’, ‘therapeutic’ ‘productive’, ‘motivated’ and ‘excited’.
So what creates the ‘Executive stress’?
Executive-level responsibility is a constant juggle : short-term crises; long term vision, firefighting and strategic planning.
A whirlwind of meetings, emails, phone calls, each vying for your attention. It’s exhilarating yet daunting, requiring a delicate balance of strategy, decisiveness and resilience.
There’s a weighty sense of purpose. You know that every decision you make carries implications for your team, your company and your industry. The stakes can be high and the pressure can feel relentless.
You conduct your role with confidence and foresight. But that leadership role can bring with it a burden, a level of responsibility, accountability and ownership that affects the bottom line, the livelihoods of your employees and the trust of your partners and stakeholders.
Yet, there’s a sense of exhilaration. You’re challenged, you’re uncomfortable but you love it. You’re not only a manager and a leader, but you’re also a visionary, bringing your vison to life, communicating with others to bring it to life, empowering others to see it, invest in it and help shape the future of the organisation.
Phew, lots going on, so it’s no surprise that some of these responsibilities can lead to feelings associated with stress:
- Anxiety
- Overwhelm
- Frustration
- Fatigue
- Tension
- Difficulty concentrating
- Mood swings
- Hopelessness
- Physical symptoms
- Avoidance behaviours
So, how can Executive Coaching help?
Coaching for executives or executive coaching can be immensely beneficial in dealing with and preventing stress.
Imagine having dedicated time to reflect on you. Spending time to proactively manage your mind and stress, leading to greater well-being and professional success. ‘Topping you up’ so you’re ready to lead at your best.
Encouraging Reflection and Self-Discovery: Coaching provides a safe space for you to reflect on your experiences, values and priorities. This process of self -discovery can lead to greater self-awareness and insight into effective stress management strategies.
Objective Perspective: You may feel isolated in your role, unable to confide in colleagues or your team about your stress. Coaches provide a confidential space to discuss challenges without fear of judgement, offering an objective perspective and helping you gain clarity on the situation.
Goal setting and prioritization: High-level executives often face overwhelming workloads and competing priorities, which can contribute to stress. Coaches assist you in setting clear goals and priorities, helping you focus your energy on tasks that align with your values and long term objectives, thereby reducing stress associated with feeling overwhelmed.
Stress Identification: You may not fully recognize the extent of your stress or its sources. A coach can help executives explore specific stressors and the underlying causes of their stress, whether they’re related to work demands, personal life or internal stressors. Understanding these causes is essential for developing effective coping strategies.
Developing Coping Mechanisms: Coaches can work with executives to develop personalized coping mechanisms to manage stress more effectively. This might include looking at how to help your brain cope better with stress, time management strategies or boundary setting exercises.
Building resilience: Through coaching, executives can learn to build resilience in the face of adversity. This involves building the mental and emotional strength to navigate challenges without being overwhelmed.
Setting Boundaries: You may struggle with work-life balance, which can contribute to stress. A coach can support with setting boundaries and prioritizing wellbeing without sacrificing professional success.
Enhancing communication skills: Effective communication is essential for managing stress in the workplace. Coaches can support with expressing an executives own needs and managing conflicts/difficult conversations with others.
Providing Accountability: A coach serves as a supportive accountability partner, helping executives stay on track and committed to their goals for managing stress and preventing burnout. Ongoing support and encouragement is key. Knowing you have someone to ‘unpack’ things within challenging times can alleviate stress.
Promoting self-care: Executives often neglect personal well-being in favour of their professional responsibilities. A coach can encourage you to prioritise self-care activities that promote physical, mental and emotional health.
Conclusion
Coaching offers executives a personal approach to navigating and mitigating stress by working together on personalised strategies, fostering self-awareness, and promoting resilience.
As stress becomes an increasingly prevalent issue coaching not only benefits individual executives but also contributes to the overall success and well-being of organizations.
If you’re an executive seeking to enhance your performance and well-being, consider exploring the profound impact that coaching can have on your professional journey.
Find the right coach for you and reap the rewards…and remember…you are the greatest project you will ever work on.
If you relate to this blog and recognise that you would benefit from some personalised support, please visit my website, www.nicky-dv.co.uk. Explore how coaching can provide the support, perspective, and strategies you want to be the leader you want to be.
Discover firsthand how coaching champions you, guiding you towards greater well-being and enhanced performance. From encouraging reflection and self-discovery to building resilience and setting boundaries, coaching offers personalised solutions tailored to your needs.
Imagine: Personalised, bespoke, tailored one to one sessions all about you.
Don’t let the pressure of your role overtake the passion for your role. Move towards finding the time to explore what you want and/or need. Visit www.nicky-dv.co.uk to learn more about how coaching can strengthen you on your leadership journey.
I’d love you to join me on LinkedIn and Instagram for daily insights, thoughts and updates about Executive and leadership coaching as well as what I get up to day to day.
Useful Links and Free Resources
The Burnout Assessment
Why not take the free Burnout Assessment tailored for female executives and leaders
It takes 2 mins to complete and provides:
- Personalised insights into your current stress levels.
- Key indicators of burnout specific to women in leadership.
- Strategies to prevent and eliminate burnout while maintaining high performance
What About Your Managers?
In this blog there’s a link to an article about manager stress. According to Microsoft’s most recent Work Trend Index — a global survey of workers across multiple industries and companies published in November 2023 — more than half of managers (53%) report feeling burned out at work.
I hope this blog brings you new learning and personal insight.
Until next time, be your best self and I wish you best-self success, whatever that is for you.