Good Anxiety

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Anxiety. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Successful leaders understand that creating the right level (and type) of anxiety can stimulate growth and increased performance. It is their ability to create just enough tension - within themselves and their organizations - that unleashes the energy that drives innovation, accelerates growth, and pushes individuals through barriers onto higher ground.

But wise leaders know a careful balance needs to be struck. For too much, or too little anxiety can have a negative effect.

When a person feels too much anxiety, they can start to feel paralyzed and become combative or controlling as they seek to ease the tension they feel. Yet, if a person feels too little anxiety, they may remain stuck, or again paralyzed, in their own contentment. When a person feels too little anxiety, they avoid change - because they prefer the status quo - believing everything will be okay as long as everything stays the same.

So what is “just enough anxiety”?

The right level of anxiety gives individuals and organizations an emotional charge that helps them thrive in an uncertain world. As we allow ourselves (and those we lead) to experience a healthy amount of “anxiety,” we will be compelled to embrace change, and learn to modulate our lives in ways that help us more effectively live in this world. It will produce an inner energy that drives us forward, stretches, and challenges us to maximize our lives and contribution in this world.

So how does one do all this

... Maintaining a healthy level of anxiety starts with self awareness. What specific things, or issues, create anxiety in your life? Define these in clear and simple terms. Then, as you start to understand what makes you anxious, educate yourself on how to deal with that anxiety in new ways - ways that keep the level of tension balanced and healthy. In doing so, you will be taking charge of your life, while remaining open to the unexpected. You will be at peace with what is still unknown - and understand that a certain level of anxiety/stress is needed - and a natural companion on the path that leads to an exhilarating life.