#19: When Your Stress Becomes Their Problem — How Leaders Can Stop the Spillover
Is your stress quietly sabotaging your team’s performance? Stress at the top doesn’t stay at the top. It moves — quietly and powerfully — through every layer of your organization. It trickles down into tense boardroom conversations, subtle shifts in team morale, and even the unspoken undercurrents that define your company culture. One raised eyebrow in a meeting can create hesitation. One clipped response can send ripples of uncertainty through an entire department. In this candid MPWR episode, we unpack what happens when leaders unconsciously let stress leak onto others — and how those micro-moments, repeated over time, can silently erode trust, sap productivity, and weaken performance. The truth is, leadership stress is contagious. Research shows emotions can spread through teams in less than two minutes, often without a single word being spoken. Your tone, posture, and facial expressions are read as signals, shaping the emotional climate of your workplace. But here’s the good news: emotional containment isn’t about pretending you’re not stressed — it’s a skill you can learn and master. And when you do, it can transform not only how you lead, but how your people think, feel, and show up under pressure. In this episode, we explore: Why even subtle stress signals (tone of voice, micro-expressions, body language) impact team performance How to identify your personal leak points before they spread to others Strategies to model calm and focus under pressure, even in high-stakes moments As we share: “If you’re not aware of it, your stress becomes everyone else’s stress.” And the reminder hits hard: “Your team doesn’t just listen to what you say — they feel who you are.” Finally, we dig into a mindset shift: “Containment isn’t suppression. It’s leadership maturity.” Imagine leading meetings where your presence brings clarity instead of tension. Where your calm focus helps your team think creatively under pressure. Where the culture you create is one of resilience — not reactivity. Listen now to When Your Stress Becomes Their Problem and learn how to stop the spillover before it starts. 🎯 Ready to lead with greater calm, clarity, and influence? Join our August Group Leadership Cohort, enrolling now. This is where leaders at every level sharpen their emotional containment skills, amplify their presence, and learn to lead without letting stress sabotage results. Are you ready to unlock your full potential and lead with purpose, clarity, and conviction? The MPWR Podcast, hosted by Eric Pfeiffer, CEO of MPWR Coaching, is your go-to space for transformational conversations, powerful insights, and practical strategies to help you step into the next level of your leadership journey. Whether you're scaling your business, seeking greater alignment in life, or stepping into your calling—this podcast will challenge, inspire, and empower you. Want more tools to accelerate your growth? Head over to mpwrcoaching.com where you'll find free resources, game-changing books, and programs designed to elevate your mindset, build resilience, and transform the way you lead—from the inside out. 🔥 Subscribe to the MPWR Podcast on your favorite platform. 📲 Follow Eric Pfeiffer across social media (links available on the website). 🌐 Access our free mini course here! 🔗 Check out our Leadership Framework System Want more? 🎧 Enjoyed today’s episode? If this conversation challenged or inspired you, we’d love for you to help us spread the impact. Share it with a fellow leader, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and—if you got value—leave us a quick review on your favorite podcast platform. Your reviews help more leaders discover the MPWR Podcast and step into the influence they were made for. And remember— Be the leader YOU want to follow. See you next time.
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