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 overload.
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.
Training
Stress management for better collaboration
Managing stress, advanced training
Control your emotions to be more effective
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.