I have always been a bit odd when it comes to pressure. I enjoy it and don’t like it when there is an absence of pressure. When things are calm it makes me more nervous. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels that way. But lately, I realised that while I crave that stress, it’s not always a good thing, especially when it starts to impact some of my role or those around me
One of my favourite books is about Ernest Shackleton being stuck in the Antarctic ice in 1915 with a crew in total survival mode. Even when things were at their absolute worst, he insisted they stop for tea. He knew that if he lost that human connection with his team, they would never make it. Lately, I realised I had stopped making time for tea.
Humans are wired for pressure. Our ancestors had things that could kill them on a day-to-day basis to worry about; we have emails, tech problems and short-term targets. We tend to take these minor work issues and make them way bigger in our minds than they need to be. As Mark Twain said "I’ve lived through some terrible things in my life, some of which actually happened”
A quarter of the way into this year, I was just plain tired. When I get tired and stressed, I tend to get frustrated and that’s when the "unspoken disconnect" starts.
According to our latest Mood data, this isn't just a "me" problem. There’s a massive gap between sales leaders and their teams right now. While 95% of companies aren't planning to cut staff, 53% of salespeople are thinking about leaving or aren't sure if they'll stay in 2026. Half of them were approached for a new job just last year. People don't usually leave because the targets are hard; they leave because they don’t feel valued or connected to a leader who’s too stressed to engage.
So, I decided to do something about it. I took three weeks off, something I didn't think I could mentally. I drove 3,000km around NZ starting in Auckland and as far south as Dunedin.
Along the way, I hit a few storms and a couple of times I had to change tack because of road closures. In the office, that would have been a "problem," but on the road, it was an adventure. I ended up taking a detour through Danseys Pass on the way to Oamaru somewhere I never planned to go, and it was awesome.
My team was brilliant while I was away, even when they had to tell me off for trying to "check in". I have come back feeling refreshed, clear, and excited to be back at work. I’m now a massive advocate for taking a proper mental break. It’s not just a holiday; it’s about making sure you aren't so burnt out that you’re accidentally pushing your best people away. Top tip from me was taking the emails off my phone. I might keep doing that!
We are all under pressure at various times and certainly a lot more in the last few years, but don’t let it build a wall between you and your team. Give yourself a break, even if it is for 15 minutes. Get some perspective. And remember, there is always time for tea.
How big is the gap in your team right now, and what are you going to do this month to close it?
Join us on 26 June 2026 for a free Indicator live webinar - Closing the Leadership Gap. Where we share what we are seeing on the ground right now and what leaders can do about it.
Register here: https://share-ap1.hsforms.com/1vOP4Ww0GTi-aB1Qx37vSRA2at30
