Turning Stress into an Asset

You constantly hear how bad stress is for you: it's damaging your health, jeopardizing your relationships, and hurting your performance. While these risks are real, recent research is showing that work strain, when managed correctly, can actually have a positive impact on productivity and performance. So how can you take the stress you thought was killing you and make it constructive?

What the Experts Say

Stress is unavoidable. "We live in a world of ongoing worry, change, and uncertainty. You have to get used to it," says Justin Menkes, an expert in the field of C-suite talent evaluation and the author of Better Under Pressure: How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best in Themselves and Others. "Stress is an inevitable part of work and life, but the effect of stress upon us is far from inevitable," says Shawn Achor, an expert in positive psychology and the founder of Good Think, Inc. Both Achor and Menkes agree that altering your approach to stress can yield positive effects. "Stress can be good or bad depending on how you use it," says Achor. In fact, how you manage pressures can distinguish you as a leader and give you a career advantage.

Don't Do What You Love

It's common wisdom to do what you love. Management experts usually promise that happiness and fulfillment will follow. But that's not always the case. Here are three reasons you may want to avoid pursuing your passion:

It's not your strength. You may love to do something you are just not good at. Because it can be hard to self-assess, ask for frank feedback from those around you to know where your strengths are.

You're too emotionally attached. Passion may cloud your judgment. When you care deeply about something, it can be hard to be take criticism or let others get involved.

It's a hobby, not a job. Sadly, you can't be paid for everything. What you love may not be lucrative. Instead find something you like that pays.

Leadership Tip of the Day

Take a Grown-Up Break

It's been widely accepted that children need time to get out of the classroom and just play. They're not the only one's who need a break. Why do we assume adults grow out of this? The truth is taking breaks during the day from work makes you more productive.

Here are three ideas for an adult recess:

• Take a cell phone break. Turn off your device for 30 minutes. Give your mind a chance to rest from the stream of incoming messages.

• Treat yourself to a weekly food splurge. You have to shop for food anyway, why not find ways to make it more fun? Buy an unusual food you've never cooked before or visit a new farmers' market.

• Do a crossword or read a book at lunch. Again, no extra time involved. Use the 20 minutes it takes you to eat a sandwich to engage in a non-work activity.

I hope this leadership tip has been helpful.


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Leadership Goals

Most of us define success as winning (beating the opponent, achieving production goals or sales quotas). A leader cannot create a competitive team out of nothing nor succeed without good material.

You must have the ability to maximize the potential and abilities of those under your leadership. This marks you as a great leader and competitor.

Keep this 7 point creed handy in your dealings as an effective leader:

1. Be true to yourself
2. Make each day your masterpiece
3. Help others
4. Drink deeply from good books
5. make friendship a fine art.
6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

Enjoy leadership!