Managing Stress: How Leaders Can Stay Focused in Difficult Situations
Understanding where you have control or influence and where you don’t is essential for managing stress as a manager.
Not all managers approach the same situation in the same way, especially when dealing with a low-performing employee or when team members find it challenging to work with certain employees.
As a new manager, you may feel a strong desire to support the employee, which can lead to stress, particularly in areas outside your control. There is an exercise, or mental model, that helps managers gain perspective on where they can exert influence and make changes, and where they cannot. This approach helps managers focus on what they can control instead of becoming frustrated by the things they can’t change.
It’s a valuable resource for managers facing these situations.
The Circle of Influence
The concept of the “Circle of Influence” is a powerful tool in personal and professional development, offering a framework to help individuals focus their energy on the things they can control rather than getting bogged down by concerns that are beyond their influence.
Ro Fernandez uses a vivid metaphor to illustrate this idea: imagine the area of concern — the things that are out of your control — as a cliff. When you focus too much on these concerns, it’s like standing dangerously close to the edge. The risk is that you might fall off the cliff, losing sight of what truly matters.
When you “fall off the cliff,” you become overwhelmed by things you can’t change. This not only drains your energy but also blinds you to the opportunities and actions that are within your control — the very things that can drive progress in your life. The “wheel of progress” represents the momentum and forward movement in your personal or professional journey.
But if you’re too focused on the area of concern, you lose the ability to see or influence this wheel.
You’re stuck, paralyzed by worry and fear, unable to make the necessary steps to move forward.
Staying at the top of the cliff, on the other hand, gives you a clear view of your Circle of Influence. From this vantage point, you can focus on the actions, decisions, and behaviors that are within your control. This perspective empowers you to steer the wheel of progress, guiding your life or career in the direction you want it to go.
While this concept isn’t new, it’s a timeless reminder of how easily we can slip into the habit of worrying about things we can’t change. The key is to recognize when you’re nearing that cliff’s edge and to consciously pull yourself back. By staying within your Circle of Influence, you maintain the power to make meaningful changes and progress in your life.
This framework helps leaders manage difficult situations by focusing on what they can control. It encourages them to step back, self-reflect, and acknowledge where and what they can influence, rather than losing track of their capabilities and becoming frustrated with things beyond their control. The framework serves as a visual tool to practice this mindset, but with repeated use, individuals often find they can go through the thought process without needing to open a notebook or use a whiteboard.
This framework is available at Nova for free.
