Stressed managers: a danger for the company

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Extract from the article: Stress is an expression of imbalance, and is above all a matter of perception. It often results from a feeling of not having the necessary resources to solve a problem. Caused by poor work organization or an unfavorable socio-economic context, work-r

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Stress is an expression of imbalance, and is above all a matter of perception. It often results from a feeling of not having the necessary resources to solve a problem. Caused by poor work organization or an unfavorable socio-economic context, work-related stress affects employees and executives alike. And yet, as a manager, you have a role to play as a referent for your colleagues. If you are overwhelmed by stress, it will have repercussions for your entire team and your company.

In the grip of chronic stress, a team leader who is usually calm and reasonable can become unrecognizable to his or her teams, because he or she is too tense, agitated, directive or unresponsive. This type of managerial stress is unfortunately commonplace, and is an obstacle to productive, high-performance teamwork within the organization.

What is mental health?

Mental health is a state of well-being that enables an individual or a community to realize their potential, work successfully, cope flexibly with life's normal difficulties, and contribute to the development of their community. Mental well-being is a balance with oneself and with others. Towards oneself, because self-knowledge is necessary to identify one's capacities, aptitudes and strengths, as well as one's weaknesses and limitations. Balance with oneself contributes to balance with others. Indeed, a successful life is a shared life, and when someone has lost their smile, lend them yours, for they will always return it.

What is managerial stress?

It's work-related stress.  When working conditions are such that the manager can't cope with the tasks at hand, or is subjected to constraints that exceed his or her capacity to adapt to the job, he or she may question his or her professional ability.  So overload leads to self-doubt, sometimes to a loss of self-confidence.

How does managerial stress manifest itself?

A manager/leader is the interface between the hierarchy and the employees, whose main functions are to guide, motivate and support. And when a manager is stressed, not only does he or she become extremely dangerous for the company, he or she can't help the employees to carry out their tasks, nor the company to achieve results. It's important to recognize certain signs: frequent insomnia, muscular pain and tension, eating disorders, digestive problems, disturbed libido, dizziness, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, irritability, anxiety, are all signs that can represent too high a stress level. Just like a lack of concentration, a lot of time at the office doing nothing (presenteeism). For some people, this condition can lead to frequent absences from work, isolation, and abuse of alcohol and other psychoactive substances (tobacco, coffee, sleeping pills, etc.).

What impact does stress have on a manager's health?

When stress is positive, it provides a model for meeting challenges. It “boosts” and motivates. However, when stress becomes negative, it wears away, gnawing away at the organs and, in the long run, can lead to death. Intense stress over a long period of time can become a danger to physical and mental health if not managed effectively. This can lead to a host of business problems, resignations and suicides, chronic illnesses (hypertension, diabetes, peptic ulcers, depression, emotional disorders, etc.), and can weaken the immune system, opening the door to infections of all kinds and even cancer.

How to manage stress?

Preventing managerial stress is essential to the smooth running of the company. First of all, you need to know how to listen to yourself. This is what we call self-knowledge, and it means knowing how to analyze your strengths and weaknesses, your capacities and incapacities, your strengths and limitations. The second thing is self-recognition: we're all individuals, and nobody's perfect. But many people never congratulate themselves on achieving a goal. You have to be proud of yourself. Even if you've done a third of your work, you've done something. Congratulate yourself, don't wait for someone else to do it. This positive spirit should motivate you even more to move forward. Assess what's wrong and what's right with the company. If the list of what's wrong is longer, it means there's a problem to be solved. You also need to rest, let go, know how to delegate certain tasks - you're not indispensable! Take part in physical and sporting activities and hobbies, relaxation, meditation, look after your family, do something other than work, “change your fatigue”, go and recharge your batteries in the countryside, go hiking in the forest, in the mountains, visit friends, reach out to others, rather than whatsap! 

A healthy, balanced diet is invaluable. Choose foods that give you energy, fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, eat “organic”, natural local produce, instead of filling up shopping carts with ready-to-eat products in supermarkets. Above all, avoid drugs, too much alcohol, coffee, energy drinks, etc. If in doubt, consult an occupational physician, psychiatrist, psychologist or stress counsellor.

Abel OZIH

Article validated by Pr. Kolou S. Valentin Charles Dassa, Stress counselor/ Psychiatrist, CHU Campus, Lomé-Togo