Effects Of Your Stress On Your Team and Family

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As a leader, everything you do has an impact on your team’s performance. You may think you hide it well, but unfortunately your stress level can also make a huge impact on your team. These are 3 key signs to watch out for in regards to the impact your stress is having on your team (and your family): 

Decreased productivity. Are your team members missing deadlines or taking longer to get routine tasks completed? Are you noticing that your team seems generally more distracted or maybe your children seem irritable and distant? Be willing to check in with your team (and your family) by asking this question: Have you noticed anything different about me in the past few (days, weeks, months)? This question (if you are open to the answer) may allow your team to disclose the impact you are having on them and give you some insight into how you can begin to shift your behavior. 

Your team is disconnected. Are you noticing that your once cohesive team is now short tempered and there is a lot of infighting? Your once collaborating team seems to have imploded. Suddenly your team is behaving in ways that are either creating delays or leading to internal sabotage. Pay attention to the mood of your team and take action to recreate connection and cohesion. This may be a great time for team-building activities or to have them work with an outside facilitator or coach to improve communication.

Increased turnover. Employees don’t leave companies they leave managers – bad managers to be more specific. Now you may not be a bad manager but your stress may be impacting your employees in ways that are inviting them to leave. You may be creating an unpleasant environment where your team simply no longer wishes to engage. If you notice your team is experiencing a mass exodus, look inward to see if your stress level may be a mitigating factor. Work with a mentor or coach to get the feedback and create an action plan to decrease the stressful environment on your team. 

If you are under stress, know that if you are not careful it will negatively impact those around you. As a leader, it is your responsibility to take care of yourself so that you can take care of your team. If you start to notice any of these signs, be wiling to make the changes necessary to eliminate your stress and the impact it is having on your team.

-Cornelia Shipley, Career Coach
www.corneliashipley.com