How Stress Management and Building Resilience Create Effective Leadership

How Stress Management and Building Resilience Create Effective Leadership

Subodh Saluja, Ajay Bhatia, Ajit Bansal, Rahul Hakhu
Copyright: © 2024 |Pages: 19
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-4350-0.ch003
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Abstract

This chapter delves into how leaders who are resilient and are able to manage stress better are able to perform well. Stress is inevitable and emerges from the obligation of settling high expectations. The authors delve into various contemporary stress management strategies, practices, and techniques that leaders are practicing and their effectiveness in alleviating stress and enhancing leadership performance. Resilient leaders are much better equipped to manage stress, and when stress is effectively managed, this in turn fosters resilience. They argue that these two factors are not optional but these are essential components of effective leadership. When leadership development places these factors at the forefront, then the organizations can expect better leadership outcomes. Real-life leadership case studies illuminate how resilient leaders have effectively managed stress, overcame adversity, and drove their organization towards success. Assessment tools help leaders gauge the tangible impact of their efforts on leadership outcomes.
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1. Introduction

Understanding Stress and Resilience

Resilience as a concept has gained importance in recent years. Resilience has been explored by various theoretical frameworks. Let us now look into theoretical foundations of resilience.

1.1. The Ecological Systems Theory

This theory was developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner. This theory says that people are connected with each other through interconnected systems from a small network to a large network of connected systems. Resilience is understood as the capacity of individuals to adapt and grow despite adverse circumstances within these systems.Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). This model says that resilience is not solely an individual quality but it is impacted by the various interactions between individuals and external environments contexts.

1.2. Psychological Resilience Theories

Two prominent psychological theories are as follows:

1.2.1. Hardiness Theory

The hardiness theory says that few of the personality characteristics can enhance a person’s resilience.

These are control, commitment and challenge. The more the level of hardiness, the more is the capability of an individual to promote resilience. Salvatore R. Maddi (2006).

1.2.2. Psychological Capital Theory

This theory focuses on traits like self-efficacy,hope, optimism and resilience.The development of psychological capital can help to improve one’s ability to adapt and grow in difficult situations.

Youssef-Morgan, C.M. and Luthans, F. (2013).

1.3. Developmental Theories of Resilience

These theories tell that resilience is evolved across the lifespan.

1.4. Cultural and Societal Perspectives

Resilience is also sociocultural too. Culture and society both factors play an important role in shaping how resilience is understood and expressed. Below are some theories in this area.

1.4.1. Cultural-Ecological Model

The above model by Linda Liebenberg and Michael Ungar, recognizes the effect of culture and setting on strength. This model features the significance of social qualities, customs, and society's emotionally supportive networks in taking care of business a singular's flexibility. It underscores that flexibility is socially arranged and that mediations ought to be socially delicate for them to be compelling.

1.4.2. Socioecological Model

The socioecological model of resilience recognizes the broader societal and structural factors that influence resilience. It emphasizes the role of policies, economic conditions, and social inequalities in either promoting or hindering resilience at the individual and community levels. This perspective calls for systemic changes to create more resilient societies. Stress is a complicated phenomenon that is present in all aspects of human life, including the domain of leadership.

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2.0 Defining Stress

Stress is a complex phenomenon that comes up when people are not able to cope up with the demand disconnect between the demands placed upon them and their ability to cope effectively with that demand or the situation. Stressors can come in various forms, such as workload pressures, organizational change, interpersonal conflicts and personal life events.

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