Leaders Get Stressed Too: How to Fight Back and Win
Let’s Talk About Stress (Without Feeling Like a Fraud)
Stress is real—especially when you’re juggling coaching, business, leadership, and LIFE. It’s not just a buzzword. And yet, in our world of high-achievers, the word "stress" feels taboo. You lead others, you inspire people, you're the one people look to for answers. So how could you possibly be stressed? That’s the lie. The truth? Just because you lead, coach, or impact others doesn’t mean you’re immune to stress.
Stress wears many faces. It hides in our bodies, it creeps into our environments, and it lurks behind the daily pressure of trying to keep everything going. And even when it’s “good” stress—like launching a program, hitting a goal, or crushing a workout—your body doesn’t always know the difference. It still takes a toll. Yes, exercise is amazing, but for some, it can create more stress than healing if you're not tuned in. I learned that the hard way.
So today, we’re flipping the script. We’re going to talk about how to lead WITH stress. How to stay healthy THROUGH stress. And how to acknowledge stress without feeling like a hypocrite.
Let people see the real you. Don’t hide it. You’re human. Be the coach, the leader, and the person who manages stress instead of being crushed by it.
Repetitive Stress = Real Problems
Stress is rarely a one-time event. It’s often the same things showing up on repeat: the dishes, the notifications, the phone calls, the laundry, the deadlines, the expectations. It builds until your nervous system screams, "I can’t do this!"
I’ve been there. I still go there. But I don’t stay there. Because now, I fight differently.
Let Me Get Personal...
Dishes used to trigger me hard. Growing up in a home where rage was normal, dishes were a landmine. If they weren’t done, my dad would yank me out of bed by my hair to do them. That trauma wired my brain. So even now, if I walk into a kitchen and see a sink full of dishes, I feel my whole body shift into stress mode.
The dishes aren’t the problem.
The stress history is.
That’s what makes stress tricky—it’s not just about what’s in front of you. It’s what’s buried underneath.
The Small Stuff Builds Up
Stress doesn’t always come from dramatic moments. It comes from:
The email you haven’t answered
The project that keeps getting delayed
The cluttered office that you’ve been meaning to organize
The way your body aches from sitting too long
The pressure to show up online every day
And the truth? You’re not lazy. You’re not behind. You’re just overloaded.
You’re a leader. A parent. A coach. A business owner. Of course you’re overloaded!
But overload doesn’t have to own you.
What Is Stress, Really?
It’s your body’s survival response to a threat. Sometimes, that threat is real. Sometimes, it’s a belief. Sometimes, it’s a habit. But when your brain and body are constantly operating in fight-or-flight, it will start breaking down.
Symptoms you may ignore (but shouldn’t):
Chronic fatigue
Digestive problems
Headaches
Tension in your neck, shoulders, or jaw
Anxiety or emotional reactivity
Lowered immunity (catching every virus out there)
These are all stress signals. They’re not random. Your body is screaming for attention.
The Good Stress Myth
Yes, there’s such a thing as “good stress.” Deadlines. Exciting opportunities. Big goals. But guess what? If your body is already over capacity, even good stress turns bad. Because your body doesn’t separate the two. It just sees pressure. Movement. Stimulation.
And it reacts.
Stress = Lack of Recovery
One of the biggest things I teach my clients (and myself, over and over again) is this:
You don’t need to eliminate all stress. You need to create better recovery.
You need systems. You need space. You need margin.
If you’re running hard in your business, coaching others, running a team, leading your home, and trying to show up in all the places—you MUST have recovery tools in place.
And no, scrolling Instagram isn’t recovery. (You know I love you.)
How to Lead With Stress (Instead of Letting It Lead You)
Own It. Out Loud. Stop pretending you’re fine. You’re not. You’re human. When someone asks how you are, be real. Say, “Honestly? It’s been a lot. I’m navigating some stress right now, but I’m working on it.” That’s leadership.
Locate the Source. Ask yourself: Where is this coming from? Often, it’s not the surface thing. It’s what it reminds you of. It’s what it touches in your past.
Change the Environment. Your space affects your brain. Period. Declutter your desk, organize your kitchen, throw away that pile of mail. Clean out your car. Tiny changes = massive relief.
Use the "Chuck It" Bucket. One of my favorite tools. When something triggers you, ask: Does this really matter? If not, toss it. Let it go. You can revisit it later. 90% of stress can be dumped here.
Redefine What Winning Looks Like. Some days, winning is knocking out your to-do list. Other days, it’s going for a walk, taking a nap, or not yelling at your kids.
Remember this: Peace is productive. Rest is an action.
Your Stress Story Is Costing You
One of my clients came to me with high blood pressure. He was young, healthy, and had done all the right things. But the pressure wouldn’t budge. Meds weren’t working. Energy was low. Libido was gone. He was ready to give up.
We didn’t start with his diet.
We started with his HOME.
Every time he walked in the door, he saw a half-finished wall. It stressed him out. It reminded him of failure. And it bled into everything.
So we made it his mission: Finish the wall.
Guess what?
Within weeks—he was off the meds. He was energized. He felt like a man again.
Sometimes, the stress you’re ignoring is right in front of you.
Where do your eyes go when you walk into your house?
Fix it. Today.
Common Stress Triggers for Leaders & Coaches:
Unfinished tasks
Constant comparison on social
Piles of laundry or clutter
Financial pressure
Poor boundaries with clients
Feeling like you’re not doing “enough”
Too many yeses, not enough space
Action Steps That Change Everything:
✅ List Your Stressors Get a notebook. Make two columns: PROBLEM / SOLUTION.
✅ Start Small Don’t try to overhaul everything. Pick 1 or 2 things you can change this week.
✅ Create a Recovery Plan
Weekly margin day (no calls, just space)
Monthly retreat hour
Declutter session
Morning or evening wind-down routine
✅ Talk About It Don’t keep stress silent. Share it with your spouse, a friend, your coach. Bringing it into the light takes away its power.
✅ Rebuild Your Nervous System
Breathwork (inhale 4, exhale 6)
Get in nature
Remove screen time
Sleep more
Stretch daily
Being Strong Doesn’t Mean Never Being Stressed
It means knowing what to do when the stress comes.
It means being honest with yourself.
It means taking small, powerful steps to regain control.
You can’t lead well if you’re secretly dying inside.
You can’t coach people into growth while you’re drowning.
That doesn’t make you a fraud.
It makes you human.
So today, take one action.
Do the wall. Send the email. Delete the app. Say no. Create space.
And if you’re ready to fight stress differently?
Download my Declutter Your Brain Guide & Video. It’s free and powerful—and it works. Click Here
Let’s win. Together.
—Leisa Jenkins
www.leisajenkins.com
Your Partner in Real Growth & Real Solutions
