This April is stress awareness month, and those in high-pressure industries (such as those working in private equity or PE-backed companies!) know that stress is often unavoidable. To some extent, having responsibility and working with high-calibre individuals in a fast-paced environment is part of what makes the job so exciting. But stress should not be a constant factor in your work, and it needs to be managed to make sure your mental health and job satisfaction are not negatively impacted. We have pulled together 7 simple ways to help combat stress, no matter where you work:
1. Communication culture
Acknowledge stress and don’t try to hide it. Not only will this help lighten the emotional burden and promote healthier coping mechanisms, but it also makes other people feel less inclined to bottle it up, so it has an amplifier effect across your organisation. Your network should also provide support and a safe space to vent. Connecting with mentors who understand your position can help reframe challenges through sharing lessons learned.
2. Recognise the signs of burnout
Prevent stress from turning into burnout by recognising when your stress levels have become unmanageable. This might be physical symptoms such as sleep problems, emotional symptoms such as irritability or depression, or behavioural symptoms such as a negative mindset and feeling worthless at work. Spotting these early means that you can intervene and get help or face the root cause rather than letting it spiral.
3. Time away from Teams/Zoom
Everyone needs time away from work or thinking about work, but in today’s always-on tech, it can be easy to feel like the work never stops. Create space for time where you aren’t one notification away from being pulled back into thinking about the next task on your plate.
4. Understand when stress is advantageous
Stress can reflect that we’re invested in something we think is important. It can make us work harder, dedicate more of our time and think creatively. Understanding when it is beneficial and using it appropriately can be a superpower. Just as stand-up comedians try to imagine that the nerves they feel before going on stage are in fact excitement, try and understand whether some moments of stress can be reframed as reflecting your enthusiasm.
5. Realistic and clear priorities
An unrealistic to-do list will make anyone stressed. Avoid being overwhelmed by understanding which tasks you need to do – if possible, use the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritise by urgency and importance. Set realistic deadlines and communicate them clearly. Block out time for focussed work and don’t be afraid to say no to meetings that take up space needed for thinking and doing. Remember, you control your time.
6. Avoid superhero syndrome
Leaders are often under immense pressure to make critical decisions, but feeling you must handle everything yourself will only lead to isolation and feeling overwhelmed. Instead of trying to save the day, empower your team to make decisions with your support. Not only will this promote leadership across your organisation, but it will also bring in a broader range of perspectives and more job satisfaction for those who feel trusted to do their job.
7. Celebrate successes
Working in fast-paced jobs means that expectations are incredibly high. Which may mean it feels like every milestone is par for the course, and you end up in a high-stress and low appreciation cycle. Instead, take time to celebrate work goals, projects finished, deals done, etc. Not only will it give you greater job satisfaction, but it will also help the whole team recognise that hard work is valued.
