Middle managers have a lot of unique stress. Studies show they’re 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! 
But there are some ways to manage your job without suffering from undue stress. Below are a few tips for staying sane!
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 the current workload.
Be clear about the team’s purpose and goals. Along with communication to upper management, communication and goal setting with your team is equally important. If the team doesn’t understand the “why” of their work, they have less reason to be motivated, attentive, and enthusiastic. Make sure you and the rest of the team know your long-term goals, the purpose of those goals, and how your current tasks fit into that big picture. Not only will this increase motivation among your team members, but it also gives you a clear way to evaluate the progress you all are making both collectively and individually.
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.
