Hey there, fellow recruiters! Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: stress. It’s like an uninvited guest at a party – always showing up, often unwelcome, but maybe, just maybe, it’s time we learned to dance with it instead of showing it the door.
The Recruiting Rollercoaster
Let’s face it, our job is like being on a rollercoaster. One minute you’re on top of the world, placing the perfect candidate, and the next, you’re plummeting down as a client changes their mind or a candidate ghosts you. It’s enough to make anyone’s stomach churn.
But here’s the thing: that churning? It’s not always bad. In fact, a bit of stress can be like coffee for your brain – it wakes you up and gets you moving. The key is finding the right amount. Too little, and you’re snoozing at your desk. Too much, and you’re bouncing off the walls like you’ve had a gallon of espresso.
Finding Your Stress Sweet Spot
Think of stress like seasoning your food. A pinch of salt makes the dish better, but dump the whole shaker in, and you’ve ruined it. Rollercoasters are fun for a day, but a stressful method of commuting. In recruiting, a bit of pressure can sharpen your focus, help you make quick decisions, and keep you on your toes. It’s when the stress turns into a constant headache that we need to worry.
So how do we find that sweet spot? It starts with changing how we look at stress. Instead of seeing it as your enemy, try seeing it as your slightly annoying but well-meaning personal trainer. It’s there to push you, not break you.
Practical Ways to Dance with Stress
Time-blocking: Treat your day like a tetris game. Fit the big blocks (important tasks) in first, then let the smaller pieces fall into place. It’s oddly satisfying and keeps you from feeling overwhelmed.
Build Your Squad: Remember, you’re not on this rollercoaster alone. Build a network of other recruiters, mentors, or industry pros. They’re your seatmates on this wild ride – there for the ups and downs.
Self-care Isn’t Selfish: Taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury, it’s maintenance. You wouldn’t expect a car to run without oil changes, right? Same goes for you. Find what recharges you – maybe it’s a run, a good book, or binge-watching that new series everyone’s talking about.
Turning Pressure into Your Superpower
Here’s where it gets fun. Once you’ve got a handle on managing your stress, you can start using it to your advantage. That adrenaline rush before a big client meeting? Channel it into extra preparation and sharp focus. The pressure of a tight deadline? Let it push you to be more efficient and creative.
It’s like being a surfer. At first, the waves (stress) might knock you down. But with practice, you learn to ride them, and suddenly, you’re doing tricks you never thought possible.
Dealing with Client and Candidate Stress
Remember, you’re not just managing your own stress – you’re often the buffer between anxious clients and nervous candidates. It’s like being a stress translator. Here are some tips:
- Keep it real: Don’t promise the moon if you can only deliver a streetlamp. Setting realistic expectations from the start saves everyone a headache later.
- Communicate like a boss: Clear, frequent communication is your best friend. It’s like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs – it keeps everyone on the same path and feeling secure.
- Be the calm in the storm: When everyone else is losing their cool, that’s your time to shine. Take a deep breath, speak calmly, and watch how it ripples out to others.
Creative Ideas for Stress Management
You know how we are… we hope to entertain as well as educate. Here are some out-of-the-box ideas for stress management. See if anything feels worth attempting. This list is for creative fodder.
- Reverse Scheduling. Instead of starting your day with a to-do list, create a “done list.” At the end of each day, write down what you accomplished, no matter how small, to shift focus from what’s left to do to what you’ve achieved.
- Scream Therapy. Find a private space—your car, a soundproof room, or an open field—and just scream. Letting out a primal yell can release built-up tension, providing an emotional and physical reset.
- Therapeutic Knitting. The repetitive motion and focus on patterns in knitting can serve as a form of meditation, easing anxiety and centering your mind.
- Surprise Days Off. Plan an unplanned day off—call it a “mental health day.” When you feel the pressure building, take a spontaneous day to do anything but work, refreshing your mind and returning with renewed energy.
- Object Relocation. Shift things around in your environment. Rearrange your desk, move your furniture, or reorganize your workspace. The physical act of moving objects can give a feeling of control and create a fresh perspective, reducing stress.
- Sensory Deprivation Meditation. Create a mini sensory deprivation experience at home by filling a bathtub, closing the door, turning off the lights, and submerging yourself with just your face above the water. Focus on your breathing while your other senses are muted for deep relaxation.
- Laughter Yoga. Combine deep breathing exercises with forced laughter. Even if you start with fake laughter, it often turns into real, uncontrollable giggles, reducing stress hormones and increasing oxygen intake.
- Shadow Boxing Your Stress. Imagine your stress as a physical entity, and shadowbox it. Throw punches at the air, envisioning your stress getting knocked out with each hit, combining physical exertion with mental imagery. Jason uses a heavy bag and a wavemaster rather than a shadow.
- Daily Whimsy Ritual. Create a daily ritual of pure whimsy. It could be wearing mismatched socks, speaking in rhyme for an hour, or dancing to a song every morning. These playful rituals break the monotony and diffuse stress with fun.
- Upside-Down Time. Literally flip your perspective by spending a few minutes upside down. Lying with your legs up against a wall or hanging your head off the bed can shift your physical perspective, offering a fresh, stress-relieving outlook. And an inversion table is great for your back.
- Personal Soundtrack Curation. Curate a playlist that acts as the soundtrack to your life. Choose songs that match different moods and activities, playing them throughout the day to transform mundane moments into cinematic experiences.
- Time Traveling Journaling. Write a letter to yourself from the perspective of your future self. Imagine you’re 10 or 20 years older, full of wisdom and advice, making your current stressors seem smaller and more manageable.
- DIY Zen Garden. Create a small Zen garden with sand and a few stones. Keep it on your desk or at home, and rake patterns in the sand whenever you need a calming break. The repetitive motion helps clear your mind.
Stress in recruiting isn’t going away, but that doesn’t mean it has to run the show. By changing how we view it and learning to work with it rather than against it, we can turn stress from our nemesis into our secret weapon.
Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate stress – it’s to harness it. Like a river, stress can either flood and destroy, or it can be channeled to power your success. The choice is yours.
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Tricia Tamkin, headhunter, advisor, coach, and gladiator. Tricia has spoken at over 50 recruiting events, been quoted in multiple national publications, and her name is often dropped in groups as the solution to any recruiters’ challenges. She brings over 30 years of deep recruiting experience and offers counsel in a way which is perspective changing and entertaining.