All of us have experienced the stress of an upcoming project deadline. But have you noticed how stress is also a driver of high performance?
Without the urgency of a deadline or an upcoming client meeting we might find ourselves busy, doing various things except the important work.
But a deadline has a magical effect…it gets us motivated and focused on doing what’s most important.
The pressure and stress caused by a deadline is normal and even helpful.
We know that stress and pressure improve performance by reducing distractions while enhancing focus, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.
So why does stress get such a bad reputation?
It’s because stress or pressure is beneficial only up to a point…if we experience too much stress for too long it will affect our mental health and our performance.
Extended stressors and pressures can leave us feeling mentally, physically and emotionally depleted and exhausted directly affecting our performance bandwidth.
If the pressures and stress are chronic (i.e., severe and continuing for months) we experience worsening mental health conditions, including anxiety, burnout and even depression.
The longest lasting impact of the pandemic are likely to be mental, and not physical. The isolation, the fear, the uncertainty, the economic turmoil (of the pandemic) - they all cause or could cause psychological distress.
What is your playbook for empowering better mental health and performance for yourself and your team?