Episode Summary:
In this week’s episode of “Mondays with Mike,” host Mike Staver dives into a common challenge faced by leaders managing high-stakes projects: how to reduce stress to make clearer decisions. Mike explores practical strategies that allow leaders to manage stress effectively without compromising leadership quality. Key among these strategies is the concept of slowing down and focusing on “high-gain activities,” which are tasks with the greatest impact on the team or project.
Mike highlights the need for leaders to create moments to reset their minds, whether through small breaks, music, or brief physical activity, to avoid the burnout that hinders effective decision-making.
Mike’s insights remind us that prioritizing self-care allows leaders to be more present and responsive for their teams, leading to better outcomes overall.
Key Takeaways:
- Managing stress as a leader requires slowing down and avoiding a “rushed” pace.
- Prioritizing “high-gain activities” can lead to more impactful results.
- Short breaks between tasks can help reset and refresh your mind.
- Self-care enables leaders to perform at their best for their team members.
Notable Quotes:
- “You need to slow down. And I know that seems impossible. But I see in our client group, the people who I think have the hardest time with stress are people who are moving at a pace that is too fast.”
- “We do an activity called high gain activity where we have people focus more of their energy on the thing that has the highest probability of moving the business or the department forward.”
- “Your brain does not work good at a fast pace all the time. So got to take care of you before you can take care of them.”
- “It might mean playing a certain type of music between tasks. It might mean a moment of breathing. It might mean getting up and changing the scenery.”
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