In times of stress, it’s both more challenging and more critical that effective leaders step up. As the quote from novelist James Lane Allen goes, “Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” Stressful times do not create great leaders; stressful times reveal who the great leaders truly are. And if there is anything everyone is experiencing right now, it’s seemingly never-ending stress.
A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that, while there may be collective agreement that the global pandemic has ended, the long-term stress impacts of it, as well as inflation, climate disasters, and more, are just beginning to reveal themselves (2023). There was a 10-percentage point increase in chronic illnesses, especially among those between the ages of 35 and 44 years, from 2019 to 2023. This same age group also experienced the highest increase in mental health diagnoses, from 31 percent in 2019 to 45 percent in 2023, and those aged 18 to 34 years reported the highest rate of mental illnesses at 50 percent in 2023.
Top stressors across age groups in 2023 included health concerns (65 percent), money (63 percent), and the economy (64 percent). Not surprisingly, the 2024 survey found that the top current stressors are the future of our nation (77 percent), the economy (73 percent), and the 2024 U.S. presidential election (69 percent; American Psychological Association, 2024).
Why do these numbers matter for organizations? Great leaders recognize that there are numerous factors impacting their employees’ abilities to be successful. That does not mean that leaders should be required to be mental health counselors. It means that they should know how to be human with their people, provide support and guidance when it is needed, and recognize that each of their team members is likely carrying a load of stress that can impact organizational and individual outcomes.
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