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Navigating change is part of leadership. But when multiple layers of your life shift at once, the stress does not stack. It amplifies. I have been reflecting on the past three and a half years and what a journey it has been.
Smash through growth ceilings,
During this time, I started a second business, bought two investment properties, navigated the end of a long-term relationship, and became a single mum. I also sold a portion of one company, entered into a business partnership, and handled a major direction change in that business, all while continuing to grow my consulting practice. And through most of it, I was raising a toddler who is now in the first year of school. Looking back, these were not isolated personal changes. They happened during one of the most globally stressful periods in recent memory. Navigating change on that many fronts at once is a different kind of demand.
When Personal and Global Stress CollideThe financial challenges we face as individuals can be demanding enough on their own. But when they compound with global crises or a recession, the weight shifts. This kind of stress is not additive. It is amplified. Personal stressors blend with larger global pressures, and suddenly the load feels disproportionate. Financial pressure, for example, activates the brain’s fight, flight, or freeze response, flooding the system with cortisol and adrenaline. This is a natural reaction to immediate threats. However, when paired with global uncertainties like a pandemic or economic downturn, the stress response can go into overdrive. And you feel that in your body. We saw this in 2020 when people across the world became more anxious, isolated, and unsure of their futures. The global nature of those challenges created an unprecedented sense of uncertainty, making existing financial stress feel insurmountable.
What Amplified Stress Does to Decision-MakingIt is not a matter of facing double the stress. Research in psychology and behavioural economics shows that financial stress impairs decision-making and problem-solving abilities, creating a cycle that feeds on itself. A study published in Psychological Science found that financial insecurity can cause a cognitive load that leads to poorer financial choices, which only increases the pressure. The compounded pressure makes clear thinking almost impossible at that point. Those who were already under financial strain experienced heightened anxiety and depression when a global crisis hit, especially if they felt powerless over their personal or global circumstances.
Navigating Change at the Identity LevelBeyond the psychological toll, amplified stress can challenge a leader’s identity and sense of self-worth, especially when self-worth has become entangled with financial performance. Financial pressure often challenges how we see ourselves, questioning our competence and our capacity. When this stress is compounded by global events, it can lead to feelings of powerlessness and a declining sense of direction. Erikson’s stages of development tell us that maintaining a sense of control and purpose is vital, particularly during periods of identity formation and reformation. Global crises, when combined with personal stress, can disrupt this process, leading to confusion, frustration, and an overwhelming sense of being untethered.
What Compounded Change Makes PossibleThis amplification of stress, where personal struggles and global challenges combine, is not a theory. It is something many of us have experienced. And it will likely show up again in another form. Acknowledging the root causes of stress, the pattern under the pattern, brings a deeper understanding of how to move through it. Because what goes through stress has the potential to grow. If we can navigate the complexities of life, business, and self with awareness, we access the possibility for deeper growth and stronger leadership.
If you are navigating change on multiple fronts and the weight has shifted from manageable to amplified, that is not a capacity problem. It is a compounding one. Book a 15-minute Strategy Call and explore what becomes possible when you address the layers, not the surface.
To your brilliance, Tanya Cross Industry Leader Coach & The Coaches’ Coach BAppSoSc (Counselling) |
