By Chris Jones — Leadership & Development Specialist/Coach
We’re often told stress is the enemy. But here’s the truth: stress isn’t the problem - strain is.
Stress is a natural response. It sharpens focus, fuels motivation and drives performance when used well. Strain is what happens when stress becomes constant, unmanaged and without recovery.
In other words:
Strain = overload
If we want resilient workplaces, we don’t eliminate stress, we help people recover from it.
Understanding the Difference
|
Stress |
Strain |
|
Short-term |
Ongoing / chronic |
|
Feels energising |
Feels exhausting |
|
Improves performance |
Damages performance |
|
Brain stays flexible |
Brain goes into survival mode |
|
You feel capable |
You feel overwhelmed & stuck |
People leave companies not because they are stretched but because they never get to come back from the stretch.
The Human Capacity Traffic Light
Green → Engaged and energised
Amber → Stressed but manageable
Red → Strain and fatigue
Flashing Red → Burnout risk / breakdown
Most teams live in amber today but believe they’re expected to stay in green.
As leaders, we must name the amber before it turns red:
“I can see you’ve been carrying a heavy load — what would help you reset this week?”Normalising pressure + recovery is the foundation of sustainable high performance.
Recovery Is Non-Negotiable
High performance isn’t a straight line — it’s a pulse.
Every system in the body tells us this:
- Your heart beats with peaks & troughs
- Your lungs inhale and exhale
- Your brain works and rests
Work must follow the same rhythm.
Performance = Stress + Recovery
Remove recovery → Collapse.
How Strain Shows Up at Work
Look out for these early warning signs:
- Decision-making becomes slower or more reactive
- People appear emotionally flat or easily irritable
- Increased mistakes or rework
- Reduced creativity and strategic thinking
- Withdrawal from colleagues or conversation
If one person is struggling, we must treat it as a system issue, not a character flaw.
Practical Actions for Leaders
Here are high-impact ways to reduce strain and increase resilience:
1. Build in Micro-Recovery
- 5-minute resets between meetings
- Walking 1:1s
- Scheduled email-free focus time
Small drops fill the bucket.
2. Rebalance the Load
- Clarify priorities — what can pause?
- Share work, don’t silently reward over-functioning
- Celebrate smart de-prioritisation
3. Create Permission for Boundaries
Model it. Talk about it. Protect it.
If a leader is permanently online, the team will be too.
4. Coach Through Pressure
Ask:
“What’s one thing we can let go of to help you focus where it matters most?”
Coaching removes overwhelm and returns a sense of control.
5. Recognise Emotional Labour
Support isn’t just about workload — it’s about how heavy the work feels.
Humans aren’t robots. Don’t treat them like uptime percentages.
A Question to Ask This Week
What’s draining energy — and what’s restoring it?
This one question can transform wellbeing conversations.
Call to Action for Leaders
This week, try one of the following:
- Cancel one non-essential meeting
- Rotate a responsibility that has become draining
- Have one “pressure + recovery” conversation
- Set one clear priority for the week (only one!)
Resilience isn’t toughness.
It’s strategic recovery.
And when your people recover, your business performs.
Supporting Leaders Who Support Others
If you’d like help building resilience-focused leadership in your organisation, I offer:
- 1:1 coaching for leaders
- Resilience & wellbeing workshops
- Programmes developing coaching-led cultures
Connect with me or send a message to explore how we can support your team’s capacity to thrive — not just cope.
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