Page 292 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

Creating Your New Life Integration 277

This often happens to newly appointed managers in organizations that
do not effectively define responsibilities and accountability.
6. A loss of someone personally or professionally important can lead to dis-
tress. This is true even in positive situations when an individual is pro-
moted or takes a better job in a different organization.
7. Unresolved issues are the residual feelings we all carry with us when
emotional issues are left unfinished. These can be current issues such as
recent unresolved disagreements with coworkers or issues from the past
that remain bothersome.
8. Perceived differences between what should be and what is can lead to
distress. We previously discussed cognitive dissonance, the feeling of
tension, when we realize that there is a difference between what we really
value and what we actually do. Losing out on a promotion creates disso-
nance between your own and others’ beliefs about you. Having less
money than you need to support the lifestyle you want creates a discrep-
ancy between your real and the ideal income needs. If you are a leader
moving up and in transition, there will be differences between what you
are experiencing and what you expected would occur.

Living with Chronic Stress
Too much stress leads to distress. As we move toward a state of distress, there
are indicators or signals to be aware of, such as the following:

Headaches, neckaches, and Violent behavior
backaches Problems with perception, think-
Sore and tense muscles ing, and concentration
Feelings of anger, even rage Difficulty in getting along with
Generalized feelings of anxiety others and generally being
Loss of sleep and feeling touchy
chronically tired Boredom with activities that used
Dental problems to be enjoyable
Abnormal levels of perspiration Health issues such as diabetes
Constipation or diarrhea Depression
High blood pressure

Identifying these areas enables you to recognize them, identify their causes,
and realize your own comfort zone. To use stress more constructively, try the
following activity.