In psychologist Victor Frankl’s book “Man’s Search for Meaning” he relates his horrible experiences in various Nazi concentration camps. He went through unimaginable horrors and applies his experience as a psychologist to try to understand how some made it through without going mad, committing suicide, etc.
He concludes that man can choose how he responds to any given situation, that’s the one thing that can never be taken away from you. This choice allows one to retain their freedom and dignity. He also relates that horrible situations can allow a person to grow if they choose to do so.
Frankl’s point, outlined as part of his psychological theory called logotherapy, is that we can grow from the stressful events experienced in the course of our life, depending on the attitude we take. This is applicable in the life of an executive as well. The executive must realize that stressful events are a necessity for growth in one’s career.
Nietzsche wrote, “That which doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger”. This has obvious application in the life of the executive, but only if you make the conscious decision to use challenging events and stressors to allow you to grow as an executive. This choice will give you the best chance to join the top 10% of Executives in your lines of business.
Take that new assignment. Volunteer for that task no one else wants to do. Speak your mind in meetings to provide input. Put yourself in uncomfortable situations, because that’s how you’ll get better. Yes, you need to learn, become competent, etc. However, one thing many executives fail to do is take those little leaps of faith into opportunities that present themselves all the time throughout one’s career.
Most people look at stress as something that’s happening to them. They become indecisive because they don’t think they have any control over their life. The choice of responding positively to challenges helps you avoid this apathy trap. Blaming circumstances outside your control (“fate”) resign you to ineffectiveness. Take control, and decide to grow and get better from stress by looking at it as a learning opportunity.
Appreciate the stress for the growth you’ll inevitably experience. It’s hard at the moment, as you worry about what can go wrong, failure, getting fired, etc. In the aftermath, recognize that you’ll achieve this growth if you choose to respond positively to these events. Reflection after stress will allow you to learn the lessons that the event has taught you, stop activities and decisions that caused the stress where possible, and grow better as an executive and person.
If you choose to grow from the stress of difficulty, you’ll become the best version of yourself. These unique circumstances will give you unique capabilities that will make you more valuable in your business and personal lives. Learn to thank God for the stresses in your everyday life because, with the right attitude, they can make you so much better.