As a society, it appears we are fascinated by public meltdowns of celebrities. This is probably why Charlie Sheen’s twitter account set a new Guinness World record for the fastest person to reach 1 million followers. I’m sure many of these followers hoped to read or see a meltdown firsthand.
So, Tiger Blood and the rest of Charlie Sheen’s philosophies entertained a majority of the public. However, it would not be so entertaining if someone you actually know has a meltdown. Or, even worse what if you have a meltdown?
As a business leader or manager you probably think that would never happen. But all business is people’s business, and no one is perfect. And meltdowns are not a laughing matter (sorry, Charlie).
A meltdown may take the form of being irritable, snapping at others, crying, and engaging in all kinds of unhealthy and self-destructive behaviors.
One major cause of a meltdown is stress. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 75% percent of people say they are stressed out. That’s a lot of potential meltdowns.
Leaders certainly encounter obstacles and are faced with very difficult situations. An inability to cope with stress will not only cause personal unhappiness, it can also make you ineffective as a leader. Emotional or unmeasured reactions may actually complicate difficult situations and could result in a meltdown.
You may not be able to change the amount of stress in your life, but there are ways to calm down and reduce the stress.
· Acknowledge that you are not really in control of much that happens, as much as you would like to be, and you do not need to be in control of all situations. Consider a past change that you effectively managed and identify steps you took in that situation that you can try here. Realize that maintaining control in an environment of rapid change is different from maintaining control in a static situation.
· Try these stress reducing techniques: learn and apply deep breathing when you are stressed; take a break to listen to a relaxation CD; go for a walk outside; exercise regularly; eat regular meals.
· Anticipate a positive outcome to stressful situations. Your mindset can make a tremendous difference in the outcome.
· Determine whether your work habits contribute to your stress. Do you procrastinate? Do you neglect to communicate your intentions? Do you micromanage others?
· Maintain and cultivate your sense of humor. A well-developed sense of humor will help you and those around you deal more effectively.
How do you reduce stress?
