We’ve now covered the methods you need to know to be an effective leader in your

workplace. I know that with time and patience, you will get positive results from following these

methods, just as I have in my career. Before starting your leadership journey, I want to leave you

with a few important thoughts.

First, you will make mistakes as you endeavor to lead others. It’s inevitable.

Don’t let those mistakes hurt you, though. Instead, learn from them. Let mistakes be

an opportunity to grow as a person. For example, I’ve lost control of my tongue before, but then

I learned how to control it better moving forward. Now, I’ve almost mastered the habit. Don’t

kick yourself too hard when you make a mistake. We’re all human and will make mistakes along

the way.

Sometimes your best plans will fall through and fail. Being a leader means continually

analyzing what went wrong and determining to try it again in a different way next time. No

matter what, don’t stop moving forward. Someone once told me not to get too high when

everything is going great and don’t get too low when things aren’t going your way. Keeping an

even mindset in leadership is so crucial. Don’t celebrate too much when you win and don’t

drown too much in sorrow when you lose. I’ve taken that advice many times throughout my

career.

Finally, take care of yourself physically. Being a leader is demanding work. There are so

many pressures that come to bear on you daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Whether it’s

pressure for results, timeliness, quality or pressure from those above or issues with those below

you, the many responsibilities and demands can—and will—take a toll. If you don’t deal with

these pressures in a healthy manner, they will hurt you.

Have you ever noticed those big cargo tankers going down the road that carry gasoline?

They look like big shiny cans and have placards on them to warn about the flammability of the

contents. But just as deadly as the ignition of its contents is the pressure the gas can exert on the

inside of the tank. The pressure alone can cause the tank to explode like a bomb detonating.

Despite such a huge danger, you rarely if ever see these gas tankers blowing up. Why?

Each tank has a pressure relief valve built in to release pressure when it hits a critical point.

With just this one little valve, the dangerous pressure in the tank is safely released, saving

the tank and everyone around it. It’s a simple device but has a huge impact on the safe

transportation of gasoline.

Your body similarly needs a pressure relief valve (PRV) to let go of the stress that builds

upon you as a leader. Just like the pressure in a cargo tank, stress builds inside of you and can

reach a critical point. While stress is natural and a part of every job, it can induce serious

physical and mental health problems when it’s allowed to build unchecked with no release.

It will consume you if it isn’t dealt with properly. To be successful as a leader, you must make sure

that the stress exerted upon you doesn’t reach the level where it becomes unhealthy and

damaging. In other words, you too need to have a pressure relief valve.

Now, there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with stress. For starters, your PRV

cannot be alcohol, tobacco, or drugs of any kind. Using these to cope with stress is dangerous

and will only cause more problems in the long run.

The PRVs you and I need are the simple yet

powerful things in life that give us joy and take our minds off of work. Every leader needs to find

the activity that works best for them. No matter what it is, the PRV should involve some type of

physical activity that serves as an outlet for both mind and body to unwind and release pent-up

stress.

My daily PRV was as simple as taking my dog for an evening walk around our

neighborhood. With each step I took I could feel the stress begin to melt away. As we walked, I

would recall the stressful moments from the day in my mind, analyze them, and then let them go

both mentally and physically. Some nights I started my walk upset about what happened at work

that day and ready to explode at anything that crossed my path. But by the time I returned from

the walk, I was calm, more relaxed and the pressure from the stress of the day was gone. I

quickly realized how much I needed those walks—even more so than my dog!

I soon realized I needed more than just daily walks to unwind from work. I incorporated

weekly and monthly activities into my schedule that further helped me release stress and have

fun. I biked, hiked, took camping trips, and sometimes spent time off at home building model

airplanes or coding, which has always been a favorite pastime of mine. These activities, these

little inexpensive valves, saved my health. And in the process, they allowed me to physically and

mentally prepare to continue handling my job and its many responsibilities well.

I don’t know what your PRV needs to be—but you do. Maybe it’s yoga or playing video

games. Perhaps it’s playing with your children before bedtime or running. You don’t have to

spend large amounts of time on these activities for them to be effective. Find what gives you a

good night’s rest. Find what lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel good. Find an

activity you enjoy. And once you find it, make it a daily, weekly, and monthly habit. Your health

depends on it. You’ll find yourself more relaxed and at peace when you’re at home. And you’ll

be renewed to tackle tomorrow’s challenges like the strong, effective leader you are.

And with that, you have everything you need to be a successful leader. Now it’s time for

you to step up and become the leader you were made to be. You can do it!

I wish you all the best.

Steve Mattioli