How much pressure and stress are you feeling as a leader right now?

Our reader poll today asks: How much pressure and stress are you feeling as a leader right now?

• Extreme — I’m at a breaking point – 16%
• Significant — Much more than I’m used to – 39%
• Some — Things are at a normal stress level – 33%
• Mild — There’s minor stress but nothing substantial – 8%
• None — Things are as peaceful as ever – 4%

Stressful times. Almost 55% of you report feeling excessive stress right now. Your teams are likely feeling even more of it because they can sense your stress too and if the boss is stressed, it’s another source of stress for team members. Please take care of yourself. Chronic stress and burnout are cumulative. Take your vacation days. Work will always be there when you get back. Don’t let a sense of loyalty to your company drive dysfunctional behavior like excessive hours, weekend work, and sacrificing beyond what you’re paid to do. Loyalty matters to the company until it’s time for a layoff and the company suddenly becomes cold and heartless. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will. As leaders, it’s even more important to manage your stress so you’re not adding to team member stress as well.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.