Why leaders experience stress

Being a leader is hard. Stress comes with managing a team, making big decisions, and handling many tasks.

In fact, a 2022 study shows that 41% of senior leaders experience high levels of stress.

Common reasons for leadership stress include:

High expectations and responsibility

Leaders must make critical decisions, drive results and ensure their team’s success. The weight of these responsibilities—whether for employees, clients, or stakeholders—can feel overwhelming.

Constant problem-solving

Leaders face daily challenges, from resolving conflicts to making tough decisions under pressure. Being constantly “on” and ready to adapt can be mentally exhausting.

Workload and time pressure

Time and stress management often go hand in hand. For leaders, handling deadlines, multiple projects and urgent tasks often means long hours and fewer breaks, leading to more stress.

Difficult team dynamics

Handling conflicts, poor results, or disengagement can create emotional strain. Balancing being supportive while holding people accountable is stressful.

Uncertainty and risk

Leaders often work in changeable environments, where economic shifts, market changes, or company restructuring add uncertainty. Making decisions with incomplete information increases stress.

Feeling isolated

Leadership can feel lonely. You may not always have someone to turn to, and the pressure to appear strong and confident can make it hard to share struggles.

Work-life imbalance

Leaders often prioritise work over personal needs, leading to burnout. Struggling to disconnect from work and maintain a healthy balance adds to stress.

Fear of letting others down

Many leaders put immense pressure on themselves to succeed. The fear of making a wrong decision, disappointing the team, or failing expectations can be a major stressor

Helpful strategies: stress management for leaders

We know that too much stress can cause health issues.

What many people do not realise is that high stress levels can also hurt business performance.

Ongoing stress can affect decision-making, lead to burnout, and cause employees to leave.

By understanding stress, you can recognise when employees are struggling and take steps to improve the workplace.

Here are some ways to reduce stress at work:

1. Assign the right roles to the right people

When someone dislikes their job, they are less likely to be productive.

As a leader, observe your team members and build rapport with them. When you understand their strengths and interests, you can assign tasks they find more engaging.

2. Set boundaries

A major stressor is being contacted outside of working hours.

As a leader, set an example by avoiding emails and messages outside work hours whenever possible. Respect your own boundaries and encourage your team to do the same.

3. Stay calm and lead by example

Your team looks to you for guidance. If you panic under pressure, they will too. A stressed leader creates uncertainty, making things feel worse for everyone.

To reduce stress, stay composed, maintain your routine and project a positive attitude. When your team sees you handling challenges with confidence, they will feel reassured.

4. Set clear, manageable goals

Uncertainty causes stress. People feel anxious when they do not know what to do or how to contribute.

Set clear objectives and outline steps to achieve them. When everyone has a purpose, they stay focused on tasks instead of worrying about the unknown.

5. Keep your team informed

Lack of information leads to rumours and anxiety. Keep your team updated on relevant changes. Transparency builds trust and prevents unnecessary speculation.

6. Prioritise wellbeing

Encourage regular breaks, fair workload distribution and a balanced work environment. Studies show that working for 90 minutes followed by a 20-minute break can improve efficiency.

7. Foster teamwork

Encourage collaboration by sharing workloads and setting collective goals. Strong teamwork reduces stress and improves efficiency. Consider occasional team-building activities to strengthen relationships.

8. Recognise and reward hard work

When you value employees, they feel motivated. Recognise achievements, even small ones. Simple words of appreciation can boost morale and motivation.

Enhance your stress management skills with ISM

ISM’s Time and Stress Management course helps executives and managers handle workplace stress and perform at their best. A key focus is time management, helping leaders prioritise tasks, set realistic deadlines, delegate efficiently, and avoid procrastination.

At ISM, we offer world-class leadership training to enhance both productivity and wellbeing. We have many years of experience. We have been in the UAE since 1998. We understand the challenges that leaders face in difficult situations.

Invest in your leadership potential. Contact ISM Dubai today to learn about our Time and Stress Management program. Start your journey towards balanced and effective leadership.