HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY

ishikalatwal
Jun 3
2 min read

We live in a high-performance, high-pressure culture where the expectation is to lead with calm, confidence, and clarity, even when we feel anything but. I coach executives around the world, and many of them, no matter how skilled they are professionally, often struggle with self-leadership. One of my clients, Sophie, was a brilliant senior leader on the path to becoming a CTO. Despite her capabilities, she found herself overwhelmed with anxiety every time she had to send a report. It wasn’t about the email—it was about the fear of not being enough, of being found out, of disappointing someone.

Anxiety in leadership is more common than we admit. It shows up in boardrooms, hospital halls, startup offices—everywhere. You begin to second-guess decisions, lose sleep before high-stakes meetings, overwork to prove your worth, and start to feel isolated. And what’s worse? This inner chaos doesn’t stay hidden. As I’ve written in my book Win the Leadership Game, the Law of Transference tells us that the stress and perfectionism we carry as leaders silently transfers to our teams, peers, and even the people we barely interact with. Our internal struggles manifest in our external behaviors—overthinking delays action, perfectionism leads to burnout, and imposter syndrome causes us to play small. Emotional reactivity damages workplace relationships. Left unaddressed, this stress loop becomes a career killer, regardless of how skilled or qualified you are.

But here’s the good news: this loop can be interrupted. As leaders, we must learn to step away from the stress cycle. When anxiety hits—pause. Even five minutes of walking, shifting rooms, sipping water, or listening to calming music can reset your mental state. Ask yourself: “Is this anxiety telling me the truth, or just repeating an old story?” Ground yourself in reality, not fear. Leadership isn’t about always having it together; it’s about learning how to lead yourself through the inner storm. So start small. Begin today. Lead not by anxiety—but by faith. Until next time, this is Payal Nanjiani, wishing you immense success in your leadership journey.

Your Good Friend and Mentor

Payal Nanjiani

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