LEADERSHIP UNDER PRESSURE
Pressure Release Model (Krieger, 2026)
Leaders face many types of pressure, both internal and external, while performance is expected and required.
While a certain amount of pressure can be positive, motivating and spur on greater performance, ongoing and/or recurring pressure can heighten stress beyond the levels of leadership pressure that can be tolerated without necessary pressure release.
In leadership, it often shows up as explosion or implosion.
REACTIVE LEADERSHIP PRESSURE RELEASE
explosion
Pressure releases outward
Fight
Agressive
FEAR > TRUST
FEELINGS/THOUGHTS:
Anxiety, Anger, Blame
BEHAVIOURS:
Control, Impulsivity, Aggression, Dramatizing
BLOW UP under pressure
LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOMES:
Broken Relationships, Impulsive Decisions, Toxic Culture, Employee Disengagement
IMPLOSION
Pressure releases inward
Flight/Freeze
Passive/Withdrawn
FEAR > TRUST
FEELINGS/THOUGHTS:
Anxiety, Guilt, Shame, Hopelessness
BEHAVIOURS:
Avoidance, Hypervigilance, Irritability, Resentment
COLLAPSE under pressure
LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOMES:
Burnout, Lack of Direction, and Loss of Critical Decision Making
PRO-ACTIVE LEADERSHIP PRESSURE MANAGEMENT
diffusion
Pressure disperses without distruction
Awareness/Pause
Management
TRUST > FEAR
FEELINGS/THOUGHTS:
Hope, Courage, Empathy, Curiosity
BEHAVIOURS:
Stimulus -> Pause -> Response
Hope-Goals, Honesty, Vulnerability
PERFORM under pressure
LEADERSHIP & ORGANIZATIONAL OUTCOMES:
Realistic Goal Setting, Personal Responsibility, Open Communication, Pressure Resilient Leadership & Organizational Culture
Grounded in the principles of emotional intelligence, its four capacities of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management are the foundation for pressure diffusion and can raise hope for a better future, both for the organization and the leader. This pro-active approach focuses on responding vs. reacting, which allows a leader to engage in personal responsibility and built stress resilience.