Staying sane as a mid-level manager

Middle managers are more susceptible to worry, depression, anxiety and reduced quality of relationships. The responsibilities of middle management can often go from challenging, interesting and stimulating to taxing and tense. They must supervise employees, head projects, strategize with leaders and more! Here are some ways to approach life as a middle manager without suffering undo stress.

• Communicate early and often: Nothing saps energy and boosts stress like unknowns, surprises and last-minute requests. Make it a point to check in with higher management, project managers and team members to get the absolute best sense of what’s going on. Find out what’s pending, what projects are in the pipeline and more. Asking questions can help you better understand expectations. It can also help you set reasonable expectations for your team’s performance based on current workload.
• Redefine success: For many, a checked off to-do list is a major marker of success. Middle managers often find that their attention is pulled in various directions throughout the day, making that metric of success harder to meet. Redefining success to include team achievements and employee productivity is a way to battle the stress of a full to-do list while still feeling accomplished.
• Meet with other middle managers: Speaking with others in similar roles can help boost your confidence and alleviate tension. Often sharing stories of workday experiences with someone who has a frame of reference can help give perspective and offer career insight. Whether it’s management from other departments or those met at networking events, a good peer network can be a huge source of support and career confidence.

Management is an integral part of many businesses, and the best managers are the ones who can handle the stress and shakeups along the way. The right perspective and the right people can make all the difference in your success and satisfaction.