Stress management is the ability to recognise, understand and regulate emotional and physiological reactions in the face of pressure, change or a situation perceived as threatening. It involves working on yourself, your thoughts, your body and your environment to maintain your balance and performance.
It's not a question of eliminating all stress, but of learning to transform the stress we suffer into stress that motivates us.
Examples
- Use breathing techniques to calm down before a presentation
- Plan your work to avoid overloads
Why develop this soft skill?
Stress management is essential for :
- Maintaining concentration and clarity of mind in a hurry
- Preventing burnout and psychosocial problems
- Fostering healthy professional relationships
- Decide and act with discernment
- Adapt better to unforeseen circumstances and daily pressures
It's not stress that kills you, it's how you react to it.
Hans Selye
How can we develop it?
- Practise breathing, relaxation and mindfulness techniques
- Identifying stress factors and warning signs
- Review your limiting beliefs and work on your inner dialogue
- Structuring your organisation to avoid overload
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle (sleep, diet, breaks, etc.)
🔁 Associated skills
- Emotional intelligence
- Resilience
- Personal organisation
- Taking a step back
Self-assessment
✅ I know how to recognise the signs of stress in myself.
✅ I know techniques for refocusing quickly.
✅ I keep calm in tense situations.
✅ I take care of my limits and know how to say no.
✅ I'm able to put things into perspective and take a step back.
Less than 4 positive responses? Training or support could be beneficial.
Read also
Employee or manager stress: how do you deal with the situation?
Stress management: what tools are needed to meet the new challenges?
To remember
Managing stress means regaining control over your reactions to keep you healthy, clear-headed and effective. It's an essential skill if you want to evolve in complex, fast-moving or uncertain environments, and make a lasting contribution to collective performance.