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Have you ever experienced real stress in your work?

Sean Fitzgerald

Updated: May 30, 2024


Someone asked me that recently and momentarily I couldn't recall whether I had. It's funny but stress is something that for me is part of the ebb and flow of responsibility and also provides the motivation to move forward and meet the challenges that create stress head on.


With further reflection I thought about when I had experienced real stress as a leader. Leading a large team whilst personally going through the breakdown of my marriage was up there but don't worry I'm not going there today! Leading a large transformation project, for 11 months, in the Channel Islands was another that provided personal stretch and development by the bucket load!


And then there was the covid pandemic! It was a time that really tested leaders and for me it took leadership responsibility to a new level. At the start, as the situation unfolded, the responsibility of making the right calls had never felt so important. Making the right decisions was under the microscope of life safety as never before. 


Frightened customers and frightened employees were my backdrop. My isolation as a leader was peak,  whilst navigating a constantly evolving situation and determining how to apply these effectively whilst keeping the commercial elements of my store working successfully. 

Then, the (misplaced) guilt as myself and 90 members of my team tested positive over the first pandemic christmas. What could I have done differently?! Not a lot in honesty but the context around understanding that took some time to become clear. (Shout out to my team who kept trading through this period btw!)


Bouncing back from this, digging deep into my resilience bank, being agile and adapting how I approached and operated were key as things settled into new routines. Implementing new metrics and measures to ensure consistent performance. Covid test before breakfast anyone?! Regular video updates to my team, interactive virtual catch ups, check ins and virtual social events to keep team spirits high. 


‘Enjoying’ the challenge, modifying my approach meant the initial stress that could have overwhelmed became a manageable element and business settled into ‘business as usual’ It reinforced that mindset is key to how we chose to tackle the challenges that come our way and can determine what our success will be


Of course, those that know me well would argue that my ultimate stress was that I couldn’t get to see my beloved barber for nearly 5 months! Excuse the pun but It’s fair to say he had his work ‘cut out’ for my first visit!

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