How to Manage Stress as a Project Manager

Before I knew 5 things about management, I would stress about these 5: •Holding my team accountable •Feeling like I had to know everything •Managing my time - between my team, stakeholders, leaders and myself •Delegation, feeling like I was losing control •Giving my team critical feedback Then I focused on these 5 and I started winning: 1. Delegation = Growth (for you and your team member) ↳Accept that team members will not do things exactly like you would. Provide the necessary context and resources, set the right expectation and have checkpoints along the way for support. 2. Learning is a Continuous Journey ↳Lean on your curiosity, ask questions and admit when you don't know something. Accept the fact that you can't know everything. Your value lies in your ability to learn. 3. Goals are Empowering ↳Set goals with each team member (for growth and delivery), review them regularly. This will enable autonomy, drive ownership, support accountability and promote growth. Leverage frameworks such as SMART or OKRs for crafting effective goals. 4. Crucial Conversations drive High Performance ↳Provide feedback on a timely basis and be precise about what was done vs. what was expected, and the resulting impact. Agree and follow-up on next steps. Be firm on the result and caring in your approach. 5. Time Management Own your calendar. Block time in advance for your priorities (key initiatives, 1:1s, self-care and personal time etc.). Leverage productivity methods such as Eat the Frog (get the hardest task done first thing) and Deep Work. From an overwhelmed rookie manager → to a confident, effective manager. 🔁 Useful? I would appreciate a repost.

"Bosky, you need to rest or else you may not live for your son's birthday in 3 months". In 2016, I was burnt out, with severe anxiety and PTSD. I couldn't take a day off without overthinking. When my BP shot up to 145/95, and my son asked me: "Mom, why did you stop loving me?" 💔 This was my wake-up call. I was losing myself & my life to burnout. After talking with more than 500 PMs, I realized I wasn't the only one. Every product manager shares the struggle of maintaining good mental health. Is “burnout” the price we’re paying to have a career in Product Management? Product management IS an extreme job — with its intense workload and routine high-stakes decision-making. If you resonate with my story, I urge you to reflect and take control. Here are 5 ways to do that: 1. When a problem emerges, you can reduce stress by reframing it as a chance for you to develop a new skill. Since most of product management is responding to external problems, taking them as challenges gamifies the process — instead of stressing you out. 2. You are not just your work. Leave your "work" identity at work and disconnect from it at a set time every day. Setting this strong boundary with yourself keeps burnout at bay. 3. Celebrate small wins. Every workout, every page of a book read, or every fun puzzle solved counts! Find ways to pat yourself on the back outside of work, so you don't attach your value to work. 4. Schedule "Thinking Time" so you're not doing it 24/7. Giving it a space in your calendar — just as you do for meetings, tasks & urgent requests — frees mental space up. Bonus: Eat the frog! Start your day by doing the most challenging task. You will feel good knowing it’s done and avoid carrying the stress throughout the day. Part of me wishes somebody had given me these tips 5 years back, so I'd have prevented burnout. But you learn as you go (and grow) through it! I’m writing this post now because it’s crucial to start the new year on the right foot. While this is a time for being ambitious, let’s ensure we are not compromising ourselves in the process. Remember: Product is an intense industry, but taking charge of your life and setting boundaries isn't totally out of your control. Burnout shouldn't be the price you pay to be a product manager. If you found this post helpful, re-share it so it can benefit more PMs. Follow Bosky Mukherjee, Product Coach for more stories and tech career insights! 😊 #womeninproduct #productmanager #productmanagement #productcoach #womenintech #mentalhealth

We wear many hats in our roles - leading meetings, handling crises, planning ahead, and ensuring alignment. However, it's essential to acknowledge the toll these responsibilities can take on our mental well-being. Brain fatigue is a common challenge many of us face. 📍The persistent tiredness, the need to re-read emails multiple times, and the struggle with decisions that would typically be straightforward - if these experiences resonate with you, know that you're not alone. Ignoring brain fatigue can significantly impact productivity, clarity, and overall team performance. Here are some practical strategies based on experience to safeguard your mental energy: 1️⃣ Take intentional breaks: Allocate 15–30 minutes between tasks and honor these breaks. 2️⃣ Delegate strategically: Empower your team members and avoid shouldering all responsibilities alone. 3️⃣ Establish clear boundaries: Saying "no" when necessary preserves your focus and capacity. 4️⃣ Schedule thinking time: Dedicate regular slots for strategic thinking, not just troubleshooting. 5️⃣ Review meeting effectiveness: If a meeting isn't adding value, consider eliminating it. 6️⃣ Develop a shutdown ritual: Signal the end of work to your brain and allow it to recharge. 7️⃣ Normalize discussions on mental fatigue: When leaders openly address these issues, it encourages others to do the same. Remember, experiencing mental fatigue isn't a sign of failure; it's valuable feedback. Safeguarding your mental well-being is crucial as your brain is your most valuable asset. Prioritize breaks to prevent burnout - your leadership effectiveness isn't measured by the hours worked but by the clarity you bring. Great project managers prioritize intentionality over busyness. Let's lead from a place of strength, not exhaustion 💪🏽 For more insights on project management excellence and high performance, follow me, Benjamina Mbah Acha. 📌 What's one small step you'll take today to protect your mental energy? Share in the comments

Project management is a demanding field, and burnout is a reality many of us face. I want to share my journey with burnout and some strategies that have helped me navigate through it. 🔥 Recognize the Signs The first step is acknowledging that you’re experiencing burnout. For me, it was anxiety, feeling detached from my work, and being "stretched" too far. If you notice these signs, take them seriously. ⏳ Set Boundaries It's easy to let work spill over into personal time, especially with tight deadlines. I learned to set clear boundaries by defining work hours and sticking to them. This not only improved my productivity but also my well-being. 🧘♂️ Practice Self-Care Taking time for yourself is crucial. Whether it’s exercise, meditation, or a hobby, find something that helps you unwind and recharge. I started dedicating time each day to activities I love, which made a significant difference. 👥 Lean on Your Network Don’t hesitate to reach out to your network. Sharing your experiences and seeking advice can provide new perspectives and solutions. I found that talking to fellow project managers helped me feel less isolated and more supported. 📚 Continuous Learning Investing in personal and professional development can reignite your passion. I took courses that interested me, not just those related to my job. This helped me regain enthusiasm and stay motivated. 🌱 Seek Professional Help If burnout becomes overwhelming, seeking help from a professional can be incredibly beneficial. Therapy or coaching can provide the tools you need to cope and thrive. Remember, burnout is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you’ve been strong for too long. Prioritize your health and well-being; it’s the foundation of your success. To all my fellow project managers out there, how do you combat burnout? Share your tips and experiences below. Let’s support each other! 💬👇

Anxiety and high blood pressure don't need to be the hidden cost of leadership. 5 tips to overcome stress by executing E.Q as a senior leader. Leadership is hard. You face challenges daily. At times, it feels like there are no positives. You battle the... → Expectations → People problems → External pressures Plus the issues specific to you. ↳ Nobody has your same issues. Stress is inevitable. As a principal, it destroyed me. It impacted my mental health and well-being. → Blood pressure medication → Anxiety medication → Total burnout You can connect your head to your heart. Execute emotional intelligence. Protect your mental health. When you take care of yourself... ↳ You can take care of others. Here are 5 ways to execute emotional intelligence to manage stress as a leader. 1. Set Boundaries → Define Limits: Clearly define work hours and personal time to avoid burnout. → Say No When Necessary: Don’t be afraid to say no...ever. → Communicate Boundaries: Make them clear! 2. Delegate with Confidence → Identify Tasks to Delegate: Who can help you...let them. → Match Tasks to Skills: Align your people with your tasks. → Trust Your Team: Have confidence in your team. Rigid on outcome, flexible on execution. 3. Practice Mindfulness → Mindful Breathing: Take deep breaths and make the exhale longer than the inhale. → Meditation: Incorporate meditation to enhance focus and relaxation. → Mindful Activities: Do what works for you... nature walks, yoga, do you. 4. Unleash the Power of Human Connection → Connect Regularly: Stay in touch! Be available. → Seek Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. → Build Trust: Build connection...spend time together to move to chemistry. 5. Reflect and Reflect Some More → Journaling: Keep a journal to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. → Review Goals: Regularly review and adjust your personal and professional goals. → Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate them all! Even the tiny ones. You are your most valuable asset. ↳ YOU need to take care of YOU! The cost of leadership does NOT have to be burnout. Connect your head to your heart and manage the stress of leading others. You will protect your mental health. You will change the game. You will lead with impact. You are a difference maker. You are in control. Let's groooooow! Follow Josiah to connect your head to your heart in your leadership.

Workplace stress. It's a productivity killer. Not just for individuals. But for entire organizations. Think it's an exaggeration? Consider this: ✅ 76% of workers report stress affecting their personal relationships ✅ 63% are ready to quit their jobs due to stress ✅ Stress-related health problems cost companies $300 billion annually These aren't just statistics. They're warning signs of a widespread issue. I've watched stress destroy careers and derail promising projects. It starts small in teams: ↳ Missed deadlines ↳ Interpersonal conflicts ↳ Increased absenteeism Then it snowballs organizationally: ↳ Higher turnover rates ↳ Decreased innovation ↳ Compromised decision-making at all levels Many think they're managing it. But at what cost to the company? ↳ Creativity? Stifled. ↳ Strategic thinking? Compromised. ↳ Long-term organizational health? At serious risk. Ignoring stress isn't a sign of organizational strength. It's boiling water. But here's the good news: It's possible to defuse it at scale. Here are 5 proven strategies to foster calm under pressure: 1) Recognize stress signals in the workplace. Teams show stress before individuals admit it. → Increased conflict? → Missed targets? → Low engagement? These are organizational warning signs. 2) Implement strategic breathing practices. Simple, yet effective. Encourage the 4-4-4 technique: → Inhale for 4 seconds. → Hold for 4 seconds. → Exhale for 4 seconds. Imagine the collective impact of an entire team doing this. 3) Reframe challenges company-wide. Stress often stems from perspective. Encourage teams to ask: → "What's the worst-case scenario?" → "How probable is that, really?" → "Where's the opportunity here?" A shift in organizational mindset can change stress levels. 4) Normalize strategic breaks. Constant work isn't productivity. It's a path to burnout. → Encourage 5-minute breaks every 90 minutes → Promote stepping away from workstations → Provide spaces for stretching or brief walks Watch team performance sharpen. 5) Foster a culture of self-compassion. Stop the cycle of harsh self-criticism in your organization. → Model speaking to others as you'd speak to valued colleagues → Promote kindness in feedback → Acknowledge that challenges are universal Managing stress isn't a luxury for organizations. It's essential for peak performance. Start small. Implement one technique company-wide this week. You'll be amazed at the boost in productivity (and morale). What stress-management practice has your organization found most effective? Share below. P.S. I help companies build stress-resilient teams that outperform the competition. Want to improve productivity and slash turnover? DM or Comment “Wellness” and let’s get the conversation going.

Some days being a Project Manager feels like this: 🥲Multiple key resources are out sick 🥲The client is NOT happy 🥲Your sponsor is MIA 🥲Something broke, and there’s no apparent root cause… again And you’re expected to be the calm one (all while juggling a full email inbox, 10 open instant messages, and back to back meetings). If you’ve ever been the “chaos coordinator” while quietly spiraling inside, this one’s for you: 1. Regulate before you respond. Don’t react in the heat of the moment, it might come across harsh if you don’t take a second to get back to your emotional baseline. Step away for 2 minutes. Breathe. Move. Reset your tone before you jump into solving. 2. Lead the energy. Like it or not…You’re the project’s emotional thermostat. If you panic, they panic. Mirror the tone you want your team to follow, even if you’re faking it at first. 3. Skip the toxic positivity. Acknowledge that things are hard without spiraling. Say, “This is tough, but we’ll get through it.” That creates TRUST and transparency. 4. Debrief the emotional fallout. After the crisis, ask: How did I handle that? What did my team need that I missed? Crisis leaves clues, don’t waste them. No spreadsheet prepares you for this. But this is where real leadership happens. & Yes, emotional leadership is real leadership… if you ask me, it’s arguably more important than all of the tools and techniques we’re taught to use as Project Leaders. Save this for your next “everything is on fire” day 🙃 #projectmanagement #projectmanager #projectleadership #emotionalregulation #projectmanagementprofessional

3 common mistakes I see leaders pressured into... And 5 solutions... 💡 1️⃣ You don't listen when the team says they are overwhelmed. 2️⃣ You ignore or fail to see signs of stress. 3️⃣ You prioritize deadlines over the team's needs. And here's what happens: ➡️ When you aren't there for the team in difficult times, you lose their trust and respect. ➡️ When you don't acknowledge the team's stress or notice their struggles, you miss opportunities to ask questions, share ideas, and create a collaborative culture. ➡️ When you don't genuinely listen, team members don't feel valued. ➡️ When you don't offer guidance or input, team members feel isolated and unsupported. ➡️ When you don't focus on the well-being of the team, and instead prioritize deadlines and targets, it leads to stress, a drop in morale, and lower productivity. Of course, I get it: Management above you makes demands to do X, Y, and Z... And they want it as soon as possible... And they expect you to do more with less. However, excuses don't solve problems! Here's what to do instead: 💡 Schedule 1:1s This provides the ideal opportunity to listen to and understand each person's concerns and worries. Problems are surfaced and solutions discussed. 💡 Be proactive, not reactive Automate recurring tasks, create templates, and establish best practices. Each of these reduce workloads, so your team can focus on what truly matters. 💡 Share knowledge and resources Document meetings, processes, and reports in a shared wiki, and allow others to contribute as well. This reduces task overlap, as well as promotes a collective effort. 💡 Lead with integrity Don't compromise your ethics for short-term gains. 💡 Don't always say "yes" Understand the request. That means talking with your manager about timelines, needs, ownership, and all of the other details. Also, is your team the absolute best to handle the request? 👉 Successful leadership is measured not by how you act in moments of comfort, but how you handle challenging times. Remember: Your people are the company, so treat them well. PS. If this resonates, share your thoughts! 🔔 Follow Chris Cotter for more on leadership.

Have you prepared for the storm? It will come. When you commit your efforts, have you thought about the storm that might be on the horizon? It’s better to be prepared than to be caught off guard. Most people don’t. I just hung up the phone with someone on the brink of burnout. They handle highly complex projects, coordinating with a diverse global team that has encountered “unexpected” challenges. With tight budgets and schedules, there is little margin for error. The solution the person has chosen is to work harder. The real issue is the scale of work and how the workflow is designed. The manager is caught in the grip of fight-and-flight and has been unable to press pause. Their supervisor is also adding pressure. Relationships are getting frayed, and it’s beginning to get into a cycle of escalation where things will go too far, and there will be a full people and project meltdown. Have you ever found yourself caught on a rollercoaster like this? Here is some of my advice: 1. Prioritize sleep. You can’t be your best if you don’t have your rest. 2. Reach out to your close friends to help you gain perspective and feel supported. 3. Get off social media (this was one of the drains watching and posting bad news). 4. De-escalate with the key partner in this project, who is wired very differently. I used a pacing analogy of teaching a squirrel to eat out of your hand. Ask me about it. 5. Examine how decisions are made (it surfaced that decisions and execution were unclear). 6. Revisit the workflow. Fire drills were handled by the same person whose main job was delivering the project. 7. Rebuild your mindset with Stoic advice, “Know what you can control and know what you can’t. Focus on what you can.” 8. Rebuild social capital with your project partner, like a coffee break. The challenges can’t be framed as point-counterpoint but should be discussed as a conversation between colleagues. 9. Involve senior leadership to reestablish priorities and clarify how decisions are made and followed in a project with co-leadership. When we tackle projects, we will likely fall into a common cognitive bias, like overconfidence. This bias involves individuals overestimating their abilities and knowledge. This can lead to uncertainty in decision-making, potentially overlooking risks or challenges. Overconfidence bias may result in underestimating project time, resources, or complexities, impacting planning and decision-making. Stay prepared and stay resilient. 💪 #Leadership #ProjectManagement #Resilience #BurnoutPrevention #StoicWisdom

Recently I was asked, how do you manage the stress of being a manager? I have managed and led people, teams, and functions for decades… There is an art and a science to effectively managing people without feeling daily stress— Below are a thoughts/tips I have found incredibly helpful. ➡️ Prioritize self-care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being by practicing regular exercise, getting enough sleep, and eating healthy. ➡️ Delegate effectively: Learn to delegate tasks and responsibilities to your team members, giving them the opportunity to grow and develop their skills. ➡️ Communicate openly: Foster a culture of open communication within your team. ➡️ Set realistic goals: Establish achievable goals and objectives for yourself and your team. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks and celebrate milestones along the way. ➡️ Develop time management skills: Learn to prioritize tasks, set deadlines, and manage your time effectively. ➡️ Seek support and feedback: Don't hesitate to reach out for support from mentors, colleagues, or other supervisors. HR is also a great place to go for support. ➡️ Practice stress management techniques: Explore stress management techniques such as deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, or taking short breaks throughout the day. ➡️ Embrace work-life balance: Establish boundaries between work and personal life to avoid burnout. It's important to continuously evaluate your stress levels, adjust your strategies, and seek help when needed. Stress can cause a decline in mental and physical health. Ohhhh! One more tip 👉🏽If you, above all, lead with a human-centric approach, you’ll find greater satisfaction in how you’re engaging with individuals across the workplace. For more about leading human— Follow at The LeadHumano Collective