Let’s face it, being a manager or leader can be stressful. And here’s the thing: how you choose (and yes, it’s a choice) to view the stressful situation determines everything.
By embracing discomfort, becoming curious, and asking better questions instead of avoiding stress, we can create a type of stress called eustress. Unlike distress, eustress is a positive form of stress that helps us feel excited and
motivated while pushing us out of our comfort zones.
By choosing to lean into stress to learn and grow, we can create a healthy type of stress that enhances our
performance and helps us stay focused. On the other hand, distress triggers a fight or flight response in the body,
leading to anxiety and decreased ability to perform at our best.
So the question is, what will you choose today? Will you lean in and increase your self-mastery and performance, or
will you shy away from stress? Turning stress into a game and viewing uncomfortable situations as opportunities to
learn and grow can help us gamify stress and optimize our performance.