As a any type of management is the stress of being a manager ever too much?

Sophie,

that's a great question:-)

The amount of stress in any job is normally relative to the person doing it. I am sure in school you would see a marked difference in the stress levels absorbed by your various friends/ teachers to the same situations. SImilarly at work whether in management or teaching/ writing/ travelling or anyting else, the stress levels people absorb/ exhibit vary from person to person and even for the same person from situation to situation. Films have a need to exaggerate expressions to make a point that the story needs - so do not go by that alone.

That said, management is stressful no doubt. There are stresses in corporate life that bear down on you from outside the company, from the socio economic scenario, from competition and then from the internal mechanisms of the company itself. I have worked for over 30 years in the corporate world, in India, the US and the UK. I have found that at most times I have not been too stressed. There have been times when I have been very stressed but now when I look back I realise that most of those have been due to what has been going on in my own life at those times. When I have been calm within I have managed to take on whatever comes my way wthout getting too stressed out. At other times when in turmoil within, I have been stressed out at the slightest of things.

So the answer really is - if we can create ways to handle our own stress levels then no job, no matter how demanding, will be able to stress us out too much. Perhaps it will help you to speak to people you know who are in management and listen to their stories, check out working hours, whether you will get time for yourself, and so on, before you make a call. Most of all, find out what management really means on a day to day basis - what do the managers out there really do 9-5, 5 days a week and then see if that excites you? If not, look for what does. All the best!

Hi Sophia-

As you have likely already experienced in your life, there are always going to be situations that add more stress than one is used to. The same can be said for any job, at any level.

There are many ways to deal with stress when it is encountered; taking a walk, talking with a friend, spending time investing time in something you enjoy. Life is all about balance and ensuring we are making time for ourselves to refresh. I have found, personally, that if I am taking the time I need for myself I am less likely to become overwhelmed or stressed as a result of my work duties.

In the management positions I have held I will admit some have been similar to the movie scenes you mention. However, the movies generally do not depict how rewarding the career can be as well. You have the ability to develop relationships and help others develop towards their goals in their career. The reward far outweighs any stress I have dealt with and I would encourage you to chase your dreams!

You will find when you are doing what you love, stress becomes worth it when it is present.

Good luck to you!

Hi there Sophia! This is an interesting question because I think it depends on the person. If you are interested in being a manager, it is important to know that there are different kinds of stress that can come with it. The good thing is if you are passionate about leadership, you will quickly learn that its how you react to the situation that makes the difference. It is challenging to be a manager/supervisor at times for me, but I love what I do, and I enjoy solving problems! I've never been to the point where its been too much, but there are some situations that I've had to step away from and think about before coming up with a resolution. It is definitely challenging, especially in the wireless industry, but it is worth it when you see the impact you have on your employees' lives!

Speaking from personal experience, I had the same goals in High school/College. Depending on the job and how you balance work/life it can be difficult, but that can also be true for a non-management role as well. The important question to answer is why do I want to be in management? It is also important to understand the difference between a manager and a leader. I will make a recommendation of a short book in the suggested next steps I was provided by a great leader that helped me. I wanted the role to be the boss and because I wanted the money that came along with it. Those are great things, but if it is your only motivation, it can lead to additional stress when it gets tough. I have had the management roles and I did enjoy the part that allowed me to help others grow their careers and see them take off, but there are other parts that are not so enjoyable. For example, terminating an employee, delivering a poor performance review, and I found that the peers I worked with were different when I had to manage them. Best wishes in your career.

All jobs have a certain level of stress, and leading people is no exception. I think that if you love people in general, and enjoy teaching, guiding, and seeing others fulfill goals and/or potential, the joy of leadership always outweighs the stress. Also, as a professional, you have to find ways to care for your own well-being. Meaningful down time, a hobby you love, fitness.... anything that centers you and allows you to 'shake it off' when things get difficult.