Stressed Leaders Might Be Worse Than No Leaders

Do you remember the old saying “Never let them see you sweat”? Its origins are from the Gillette Company when they launched a new series of TV commercials for its Dry Idea antiperspirants. That’s the first time America heard the words in 1984, and it reminds me of leadership and how being visibly stressed, panicky or unraveled can negatively affect employees. According to studies on this topic, employees experience more stress when their leaders are stressed.

Stressed Leaders and Employee Disengagement
Certain behaviors of stressed leaders, such as hoarding most of the work to make sure it’s done right, can lead to employees pulling back and being less engaged. Stressed leaders may also ignore high-performers in the workplace, which further demotivates them to give it their all. Ideas may be ignored, voices not heard and problems not addressed by leaders who are overwhelmed, all leading to less engagement and lower morale.

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Stressed Leaders are Associated with Higher Turnover
While stressed leaders may be responsible for employee disengagement, it can be much worse. Studies show that stressed leadership is partially responsible for lack of commitment to the company or organization, and this may lead to higher turnover. Employees are more likely to stay put when they are highly engaged, committed and have a strong and resilient leader to look up to.

Employees Don’t Seek Advancements Under Stressed Leaders
This seems to make sense, because who would want to get closer to the source of stress within the organization? Most employees would feel more comfortable staying at a safe distance from their stressed leader to protect their own emotional health. On the other hand, strong leaders act like magnets and pull talent to higher positions within the company.

How the Bottom Line is Impacted by Stressed Leaders
There appears to be a direct relationship between stressed leaders managing ineffective and stressed employees. This hinders communication, productivity and good decision-making. It is also associated with higher conflict and less resolution. Since the staff is the very reason for the leader to exist, the outcomes are usually negative and dysfunctional, all leading to waste and loss. The entire workplace culture suffers and relationships tend to be superficial and short-lived.

Very Few Employees Would Recommend a Stressed Leader
Reputation matters today, especially due to social media’s powerful influence. The best companies can become discredited due to stressed leaders who fail to create strong teams, deliver quality and make profits. Bad reviews may stop the phone from ringing and potential new employees from seeking employment. All of this may strengthen competitors and make losses even greater.

Final Thoughts on Stressed Leaders
Leadership matters. If it’s strong, positive and effective, it trickles throughout the entire organization and fortifies an already great workplace culture. On the other hand, if it is stressed, negative, and weak, it still influences the workforce, but in ways that lead to employee disengagement, increased stress, lack of communication, poor relationships, and financial loss. When it comes to being a leader, it may be best to “Never let them see you sweat”.

(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Leadership in health care? Checkout my Leadership CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)

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