The Stress Effect : Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It

The ability to make sound and timely decisions is the mark of a good leader. However, when leaders with otherwise strong track records suddenly begin making poor decisions—as seen in the recent corporate scandals that rocked the business world—the impact can be devastating. In The Stress Effect, leadership expert Henry L. Thompson reveals that stress is often the culprit behind leadership failure. When leaders stress levels become sufficiently elevated, their ability to call on both emotional and cognitive intelli gences to make wise decisions is dramatically impaired. Experts have argued that increasing your emotional intelligence will help you cope with and manage stress. But Thompson clearly shows that stress actually blocks access to your emotional intelligence as well as your cognitive intelligence, two critical components in the decision making process. Drawing on examples from Green Berets on the battlefield to top level executives in the boardroom, The Stress Effect explains how to make good decisions under extreme stress. The book also demonstrates how we can all develop a "stress resilient system" by focusing on three key areas—stress management capacity, cognitive resilience, and stress resilient emotional intelligence. Thompson also offers an innovative and solid prescription for managing specific stressors that have proven to take the biggest toll on the decision making process. The Stress Effect offers critical guidance for any leader under pressure, for those charged with selecting high potential leaders, or for anyone who wants to understand how to manage stress in their own lives.