Finding the sweet spot between challenge and burnout is perhaps the most critical skill for today's leaders. In this deeply insightful exploration of what I call the "stress-pressure performance dynamic," I unpack a transformative leadership concept that emerged from my 25 years coaching executives through their most challenging periods.
Pressure and stress are fundamentally different—a distinction that can revolutionize your leadership approach. Like a perfectly tuned violin string, the right amount of pressure creates beautiful music, while too much causes breakage.
The most effective leaders understand this delicate balance, helping each team member discover their unique optimal pressure zone rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. Through real-world examples, I share how one leadership team transformed their performance once they recognized their CFO thrived under tight deadlines, their Operations Director needed recovery time between challenges, and their HR Director required regular check-ins during intense periods.
Learning to spot when healthy pressure tips into harmful stress represents another crucial leadership skill. I provide specific indicators across physical, behavioral, and performance domains that signal when someone is approaching their breaking point.
Most importantly, I offer practical strategies for maintaining team performance during unavoidable high-pressure periods, including my "pressure mapping" technique that helps distribute workload strategically across teams. The ultimate goal? Creating a culture where team members develop "pressure awareness," naturally supporting each other before anyone drowns. Join me in discovering how mastering this dynamic doesn't just improve results—it creates more resilient, engaged, and ultimately successful teams.
Download your free Leading with Resilience Team Audit at loisburtononline.com and subscribe for next week's episode on "how not to lose the dressing room."
Leadership Horizons - Helping You Lead Beyond Boundaries
