Higher Ed. is a high stress environment
Most higher ed. leaders are under pressure and feel stressed because of all the demands placed on them. They work in highly bureaucratic and political environments, which adds more tension. Trying to meet the expectations of executive leaders, peers, staff, students or other customers can be a never-ending source of stress. That’s the harsh reality. You simply cannot wait for everything to be under control and perfectly completed before you can relax. That moment may never come, and that’s ok.
To thrive in higher ed. leadership, you need to strengthen your ability to deal with unwanted events. The way you respond to adversity is entirely up to you. Instead of trying to control what you can’t control, please use your precious energy to work on yourself. When you catch yourself thinking “yes, but…” it’s an indication that your mind is trying to keep you safe by limiting you to what is familiar, but it’s not helpful. It’s time to take responsibility for your emotions and start feeling better!
1. Slow down
I know this is the last thing you want to hear but it’s true. When you rush, you multi-task, you are not fully present, you are more likely to make mistakes, or be unclear/scattered when you communicate expectations to your staff. You may be under the illusion that you are getting more done, but I would argue that the quality of your work is suffering. Also, you set a poor example for the rest of your team. They will feel pressured to rush too and the dysfunction will spread like wild-fire!
So, please slow down. Do one thing at a time. Be more structured and more protective of your time. Reduce unnecessary interruptions and distractions so that you can focus. You will get more done in less time, and the quality of your work will improve.
When you meet with someone, please give them your undivided attention. Your communication will be more effective, coworkers and employees will be more satisfied, and you will become a better team player and leader. Listen actively instead of letting your mind wander and as a result, your professional relationships will improve. That is a highly effective way to prevent disagreements and conflict down the road.
2. Get organized and plan ahead
Stress can be the result of feeling unprepared. Not knowing how to do something successfully is stressful. Some people procrastinate when they feel stressed because they want to avoid what they believe to be the cause of stress (the task). But the real cause is lack of preparation, therefore the cure is preparation, not avoidance! Discomfort gets bigger as time passes and the deadline approaches. Doing things at the last minute often leads to poor results, so don’t let that happen to you.
Instead, when something intimidating needs to get done, plan ahead, outline steps, timelines, resources needed, or information you need to obtain, then block off some time on your calendar to get them done. Once the planning is complete, you will feel a sense of control and that will reduce your stress level. Although, this will only work if you trust yourself to follow-through. Do you trust yourself?
3. Follow-through on your commitments
Leaders who say they lack confidence often struggle to follow-through on their intentions. And that is exactly why they lack confidence! How can they trust themselves if they have been letting themselves down for decades! Being able to count on yourself is not something that is programmed in your DNA. It is something you get to develop. So, stop avoiding discomfort. Stop avoiding hard things.
Much like athletes do with their fitness routine, once you make a habit of doing what you said you would, instead of making excuses, your stress and anxiety will drop. Don’t say you will try; make a commitment! Stop letting yourself down. Once you learn to trust yourself, you will no longer worry about what might happen to you. You’ll know that you can figure things out, create a plan, and that will give you a sense of security and predictability.
4. Don’t over-commit
The key to success is to have very clear priorities, drop the desire to please everyone (because you can’t; nobody can), and focus on what is most important based on your job responsibilities. Remember that being a good leader also includes empowering your staff to be successful and valuing professional relationships. One of your top priorities is to be available to your staff. So, I am not suggesting you sit at your desk all day and isolate yourself. On the contrary, the more plugged in you are, the more you will know how to be a good leader.
Sometimes you will have to say no to requests, or suggest that someone else be assigned a task, or find a more efficient way to get something done. To gain more insights and wisdom, you will need to carve out some time to reflect, recharge, step back, and have new ideas.
Conclusion
Breaking old habits is hard because it requires you to observe your own behavior, stop doing what has become automatic, and make better choices for yourself. The most difficult time to change is when we are busy and/or stressed but it’s also at that time that we need it the most. Many people reading this page will think “I already tried all that and it didn’t work”. Well, it does work when we are fully committed and have support. Let me help you!
I invite you to click here and schedule a time to speak with me to discuss how we can work together. Many colleges and universities pay for executive coaching because they know how significant the return on investment is, so don’t wait. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
About the author: Dr. Audrey Reille has empowered thousands of professionals through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, speaking engagements, and online courses. Audrey is the go-to executive coach for leaders in higher education administration. She empowers them to thrive by improving communication, confidence, executive presence, effectiveness reducing stress, optimizing strategies, improving professional relationships, and developing a strong and empowered mindset.