Navigating the high-pressure world of corporate leadership demands effective stress management strategies. This article demystifies stress relief, offering practical techniques endorsed by industry leaders to enhance clarity and focus. Gain valuable insights from professionals who have mastered the art of maintaining composure in the face of executive challenges.
- Practice Gratitude to Handle Pressure
- Pause and Prioritize Key Issues
- Take a Short Walk for Clarity
- Take a Thoughtful Stroll to Reset
- Use Perspective-Shifting Journaling
- Write Down Problems and Solutions
- Engage in Mindful Movement
- Use Decision-Buffering for High-Stakes Calls
- Try Meditation and Creative Visualization
- Exercise Outside to Gain Perspective
Practice Gratitude to Handle Pressure
When I’m in a tough situation as a CEO, my go-to stress relief is practicing gratitude. It sounds simple but taking a moment to pause and reflect on the good stuff in my life and work has a huge impact on how I handle pressure.
Here’s how it works for me: whenever the stress starts to build—whether it’s a tough decision, team conflict, or an unexpected setback—I intentionally shift my focus to what’s going right. I ask myself, “What’s one thing I’m grateful for in this moment?” It could be the resilience of my team, the trust of a key client, or even the fact I get to tackle the problem in front of me. This habit anchors me and breaks the spiral of negativity that can cloud my thinking.
Practicing gratitude doesn’t just reduce stress; it also sharpens my focus. For example, in a tough negotiation, I reminded myself how grateful I was for the progress we’d made to even get to the table. That mindset helped me approach the conversation with calm and confidence rather than frustration or anxiety. By anchoring myself in gratitude I could focus on solutions rather than getting bogged down by the pressure of the moment.
Gratitude also gives me clarity and balance. It’s easy to get lost in the chaos of leadership—managing multiple priorities, putting out fires, and planning for the future. But when I take a moment to acknowledge what I’m grateful for it helps me see the bigger picture. That clarity often reveals creative solutions or reframes the problem as an opportunity for growth.
What makes this work is its simplicity. It doesn’t require special tools or a lot of time—just a conscious pause, reflection, and shift of focus. It also has a ripple effect. When I express gratitude out loud—whether it’s to my team for their hard work or a colleague for their support—it creates a positive vibe. That positivity often diffuses tension and gets others to bring their A-game.
In high-pressure moments, gratitude is my anchor. It grounds me, keeps me present, and ultimately allows me to make better decisions with a clear head.
Soubhik Chakrabarti
CEO, Canada Hustle
Pause and Prioritize Key Issues
As a CEO, my go-to stress-relief technique is what I call the “Pause and Prioritize” method. When faced with a challenging situation, I immediately remove myself from the noise whether that’s stepping outside for a walk, finding a quiet room, or simply closing my office door. During this pause, I focus on deep breathing for two to three minutes, which helps calm the nervous system and clear the mental fog that often comes with stress. Then, I take out my notebook or whiteboard and prioritize the key issues, breaking them down into manageable steps. This deliberate act of stepping back and breaking the problem into actionable pieces creates clarity, reduces overwhelm, and gives me the focus needed to lead effectively.
One instance that stands out is when I was managing my telecommunications company during a critical operational crisis. A major client project was at risk due to supply chain delays, and the team was struggling to come up with a solution. Instead of letting the mounting pressure dictate my decisions, I implemented my “Pause and Prioritize” method. After calming my mind and gaining perspective, I identified the biggest priorities, communicating transparently with the client and reworking the project timeline. I then delegated specific tasks to team members and personally negotiated with suppliers to expedite key materials.
My experience as a business coach and my MBA in finance taught me how to assess risk and focus on solutions rather than problems, which turned the crisis into a success. The result was not only salvaging the client relationship but also improving our internal processes to prevent similar issues in the future. This approach is a practical reminder that calm and clarity always lead to better decisions.
Ronald Osborne
Founder, Ronald Osborne Business Coach
Take a Short Walk for Clarity
As a CEO, my go-to stress relief technique is taking a short walk, preferably outside, without my phone. This allows me to mentally step away and clear my head. During the walk, I reframe the challenge by asking, “What would I advise someone else to do?” This shift in perspective often brings clarity and reduces emotional attachment to the problem.
When I return, I focus on identifying the single most important action I can take to move forward. This approach helps me cut through the noise and avoid decision fatigue. The combination of a physical break and mental reset helps me regain focus and make better decisions under pressure.
Chris Giannos
Co-Founder & CEO, Humaniz
Take a Thoughtful Stroll to Reset
When I’m under a lot of pressure, my go-to stress-relief approach is to take a little break and go for a thoughtful stroll. Whether it’s a quiet walk outside or simply pacing in a quiet area, this deliberate activity has repeatedly helped me reset in times of upheaval. Rather than focusing on the problem, I concentrate on my breathing and the rhythm of my steps. This purposeful pause provides insight and removes me from the immediate intensity of the situation.
I recall one particularly high-stakes scenario in which a crucial decision was required under tight deadlines. The atmosphere in the office was frenetic, and the need to act fast was nearly oppressive. I decided to take a 10-minute walk away from my phone and its steady stream of feedback. That brief break helped me to clear my mind, see the problem from a new perspective, and prioritize the best course of action.
This strategy is effective for me because it disrupts the cycle of reactive thinking. By taking a little step back, I avoid rushing into decisions clouded by stress, allowing for a calmer, more grounded approach.
Erin Siemek
CEO, Forge Digital Marketing, LLC
Use Perspective-Shifting Journaling
My go-to stress-reduction technique is a method I like to refer to as “perspective-shifting journaling.” Basically, I’ll pause what I’m doing and jot down a brief entry about my dilemma from a completely different perspective—maybe as a newly minted intern or even a curious customer. I ask myself questions such as, “What would this person be interested in at the moment? How would they measure success?”
This fast, creative exercise makes me view the situation from new perspectives, which more often than not brings out easy answers I couldn’t perceive when I’m thinking in my “CEO headspace.” Stepping into someone else’s shoes breaks up tunnel vision and re-wires my mind concerning the issue. It makes me feel more relaxed—like I’ve taken a mental step out of the box of my typical responsibilities—and it reignites my creativity.
By the time I am done writing, I have a fresh perspective for assessing my stressor, which allows me to refocus, clear the emotional clutter, and make more level-headed choices.
Derek Pankaew
CEO & Founder, Listening.com
Write Down Problems and Solutions
I write everything down. When stress builds up, I grab a notebook and list out the exact problems I’m facing. I break them into smaller pieces and write possible solutions next to each one. Seeing everything on paper makes things feel more structured and less overwhelming. It turns stress into something I can work through, rather than something that just sits in my head.
It forces me to slow down and think logically. Stress makes everything feel urgent, but when I write things out, I can separate what needs immediate attention from what can wait. This helps me prioritize better and avoid emotional decision-making. I’ve noticed that the act of writing itself also helps me process ideas more clearly. A lot of problems start to look smaller once they’re laid out in front of me.
Zarina Bahadur
CEO and Founder, 123 Baby Box
Engage in Mindful Movement
As a consultant working with C-suite executives, one of my go-to stress-relief techniques when facing complex challenges is mindful movement, particularly practices like brisk walking. This approach provides an opportunity to step away from the intense pressures of decision-making and recalibrate both mind and body. The physical activity allows me to clear mental clutter, regain focus, and return with the clarity necessary for high-stakes decisions.
Research consistently supports the benefits of moderate physical activity in reducing stress by lowering cortisol levels and boosting endorphins. Mindful movement, combining physical activity with focused attention, further enhances emotional regulation and cognitive clarity. The simple act of disconnecting from the immediate pressures of the day allows me to return with a fresh perspective, better equipped to navigate the challenges ahead.
However, exercise is just one component of a broader, more comprehensive strategy for stress management. Chronic stress, particularly when stemming from complex organizational dynamics, requires additional support. In such cases, I often offer my clients psychological coaching tailored to developing emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptive leadership skills. These tools, when integrated with stress management techniques, are essential for maintaining long-term performance under pressure and ensuring that leaders remain effective in a rapidly changing business environment.
James Rose
Executive Leadership & Organizational Psychology Consultant, Cognitive Direction
Use Decision-Buffering for High-Stakes Calls
A few years ago, in the middle of a major funding negotiation, I found myself stuck in a cycle of stress-driven decision-making—reacting rather than strategizing. That’s when I developed what I call “decision-buffering”—a quick but effective 15-minute reset that helps me regain control before making high-stakes calls.
Here’s what works for me:
- Controlled Breathing – I start with box breathing (inhale 4 seconds, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4). It’s like hitting the reset button on my nervous system.
- Light Movement – A brisk walk around the office or some stretching to shake off tension. This prevents stress from hijacking my thinking.
- Rapid Journaling – I write down my worst-case fears and possible solutions. Seeing them on paper makes them far less intimidating—and often, I realize the worst isn’t as bad as it felt in my head.
This method shifts me from reactive mode (amygdala hijack) to strategic mode (prefrontal cortex activation), ensuring my decisions are guided by logic, not stress. The result? Sharper clarity, better prioritization, and the ability to turn stress into a tactical advantage rather than a liability.
The key takeaway: Stress is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to dictate your decisions. With the right system, you control it—not the other way around.
Ahmed Yousuf
Financial Author & SEO Expert Manager, CoinTime
Try Meditation and Creative Visualization
My go-to stress-relief technique is meditation, specifically creative visualization. I imagine myself in the studio, mentally going through the creative process step by step. This helps me shift my focus from business pressure to pure creativity, allowing me to regain clarity and make better decisions with a clear mind.
One example of this is a time when we faced a major delay in fabric shipments just before the launch of an important collection. The entire team was stressed, and it felt like everything was about to fall apart.
Through this technique of creative visualization, I refocused on the message we were trying to convey through the collection, which inspired me to adapt the designs with the easily available materials we had on hand. This shift helped us stay on track, and the collection received great feedback for its creativity and adaptability.
Sas Terani
Owner, Terani Couture
Exercise Outside to Gain Perspective
As a CEO and stress-reduction coach, my go-to strategy when I’m facing a challenging situation is to get outside and get some exercise by going for a walk or a run. When I’m able to get up from my screen and start moving outside, I gain perspective, my head clears and I’m able to work through my thoughts, turning them from a jumbled mess into a plan of action. When I get back to my desk, I’m generally ready to document what I’ve just been thinking about, and that distance and perspective of literally changing the scenery helps me to make more grounded, level-headed decisions.
Alexis Haselberger
Time Management and Productivity Coach, Alexis Haselberger Coaching and Consulting, Inc