Stress Control: Tough Leadership vs. Easy Does It
Tough leaders are usually seen as ogres. Their
exacting demands and high expectations add to
stress levels. And their obsessive compulsive
behavior can have a negative effect on results if
they don't understand how to control stress to get
positive results without serious negative
reactions. The same kind of leadership challenge can be found
in the Army. Management at all levels are faced
with the decision of "tough leadership" or "easy
does it" in preparing troops for combat and on the
battlefield. Good military leaders work hard to balance the
encouragment of positive stress with the debilitating
negative stress they confront. The best leaders
know how to use positive stress to get the most out
of their troops. And they know how to tone things
down to when negative stress threatens productivity. The Army is fanatic about training officers and
sergeants to take care of the troops. And these
well-trained leaders are fanatic about carrying
out their responsibilities. The soldiers in their
command don't always realize why these leaders
are so focused on having everything 100% ready --
personnel, equipment, and training. Even the most personable leaders are sometimes
accused of managing "by the book" or of being too
concerned with their own personal recognition and
promotion. But those who make these allegations,
miss the point. Just the opposite is true. As in the corporate arena, these "fanatic"
leaders are primarily interested in the welfare
of their people. They want to complete the unit's
mission with minimum personnel loss. Strict
discipline, intensive and complete training, and
numerous inspections are essential for combat
readiness. Corporate leaders face the same type
challenges as they strive for efficient and
effective productivity. Failing to enforce regulations, conduct detailed
inspections, or practice combat readiness is
tantamount to dereliction of duty. The extra
effort that goes into intensive training programs
creates additional stress in the unit, but less
persistent commanders actually endanger their
troops and their mission when they fail to
schedule training that teaches troops how to deal
with the hazards they will face. Keep this in mind the next time you are tempted to
relax a corporate policy. "Easy does it" might be
what your employees want to hear, but you might
also be derelict in your responsibilities if you
give them what they want. A little "tough leadership" can give your people and
your company the edge needed to compete on today's
corporate battlefield. To get a free article and learn more about
controlling the top 10 workplace stressors, send
a blank email to 10stressors@couragebuilders.com Dale Collie - professional speaker, former
US Army Ranger, CEO, and a Fast Company top
50 innovative leader. Author of "Winning
Under Fire." (McGraw-Hill) collie@couragebuilders.com
MORE RESOURCES:
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YMCA yoga class begins at Camp YomechasMiddleboro Gazette, MA - 3 hours agoMIDDLEBORO — The YMCA's Fall I 2008 session of yoga begins Thursday, Sept. 11. A new meditation class will be offered from 6-7 pm, and All Levels Yoga ... |
DNC Bloggers Choose Yoga, Not CheetosU.S. News & World Report, DC - Aug 27, 2008They're twittering away in the "Big Tent," an 8000-square-foot structure with morning yoga sessions and late-afternoon happy hours. ... |
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