How to Overcome Leadership Anxiety Before It Wrecks Your Engine
Every leader feels it—the pressure to make the next event bigger, the late-night restlessness, the “what ifs,” the pressure to perform, finding the next staff member, etc. Leadership anxiety is real, but it doesn’t have to run your race. Here are four steps to downshift out of anxiety and lead with confidence.
1. Don’t allow it to Numb You
Name it. By this, I mean identify what’s really fueling your anxiety. Is it fear of failure, conflict, or loss of control? Naming it weakens its grip, allowing you to focus on fixing the problem. Like a check-engine light, ignoring anxiety only creates bigger problems.
2. Shift Your Focus
Avoid obsessing over outcomes. Instead, practice God’s presence daily. Keep your eyes on the path you wish to take rather than the obstacle you’re attempting to avoid. A NASCAR driver doesn’t stare at the wall he’s trying to avoid; he looks through the curve where he wants to go.
3. Anchor Yourself in Community
Share with a trusted team member what you’re feeling. Don’t battle anxiety alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. This practice models for other team members how to handle anxiety. Pit crews win races—not drivers alone. Leaders need their pit crew, too.
4. Progress > Perfection
Anxiety feeds on unrealistic expectations. Celebrate progress. Zechariah 4:10a “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.” Progress is made one step at a time, not in big leaps.
Final Thought
Leadership anxiety is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be terminal. Name it, shift your focus, lean on your crew, and run one lap at a time. That’s how leaders keep from redlining—and instead, finish the race with strength.
Written by Rod Whitlock, Coach Invest Leadership Initiative
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