When its Too Much for Your Team - Do This
By VICKY BROWN
Let’s talk about what it means to lead right now.
Not in the abstract – not some theory about company culture or management frameworks – but the very real challenge of showing up for your team when everything feels heavy.
You might be holding your own exhaustion, managing uncertainty, juggling priorities, and still trying to show up with presence and poise. But you’re not the only one feeling the weight. Your team is too.
And here’s the tricky part – they may not say it. They may smile on Zoom. They may hit every deadline. They may keep pace with client demands. But underneath the surface, many of them are just trying to get through the day. Quietly.
Leadership, in this moment, isn’t about fixing everything. It’s about shaping the environment they’re working in – in small, steady ways that send one very clear message: You don’t have to pretend everything’s fine to be valuable here.
It can start with something simple: acknowledgment. Saying out loud what everyone is silently carrying. “I know the world feels heavy right now.” That line might feel small, but it opens a door. It tells people they’re not alone in how they feel. That they don’t have to armor up just to be taken seriously.
And once that door is open, it’s up to you to protect the space inside. You do that through how you show up. Through the tone you set. Through the moments of pause you model, not just suggest.
If you tell your team to take breaks but never step away yourself, they’ll believe what they see, not what you say. But if you block time for a walk, or start your Monday by saying, “I’m going to need a slower start today,” you’re giving them permission to honor their own energy too.
You also create safety by clarifying what matters most. Because when people are stressed or tired, ambiguity doesn’t motivate – it overwhelms. Vague priorities, shifting expectations, or endless to-do lists will break a team faster than any external crisis.
So name what’s essential. Let go of what’s not. If something can wait, let it. If a meeting isn’t needed, cancel it. If that extra report doesn’t serve a real purpose, skip it.
“… This is where trust is built. Not in grand gestures, but in how you show up when things are hard.“
Simplifying isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about creating room to breathe – and in stressful times, that breath might be the thing that keeps someone going.
And when you see your team showing up – not just crushing goals, but staying steady, offering help, following through – call it out. Quiet thank yous, small shout-outs, genuine praise. These moments matter. Because when the only thing people hear is what’s next, they start to lose sight of how far they’ve come.
But here’s the part that requires real discipline: boundaries.
If you’re sending emails at 11pm or pinging Slack messages late into the night, you’re silently telling your team that rest is optional – or worse, a weakness. But when you unplug, when you honor your time off, when you respond to messages during working hours – you’re modeling a boundary that protects everyone.
And let’s not forget the human part of all this. Before diving into your agenda, check in. Not performatively. Just sincerely. A simple “How’s everyone doing this week?” or “One word for how you’re feeling” opens the space for real connection.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur jumping into a leadership role, a seasoned business pro with new HR responsibilities, or just starting your HR career – we’ve got the right path to guide you through your HR hurdles.
Check out the Leaders Journey Experience. This online education platform holds the LJE Masterclass, HR SimpleStart Academy and HR FuturePro Academy.
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You don’t need to solve every emotion in the room. You just need to make room for them. Because isolation is what makes hard times feel harder. And connection is what helps people stay grounded.
If your business is in a tough season – say so. Be honest without catastrophizing. Transparency calms people. Vague silence unnerves them. They don’t need guarantees. They need clarity.
And finally – support looks different for everyone. Sometimes it’s a conversation. Sometimes it’s a tool or resource. Sometimes it’s just the knowledge that if someone says, “I’m not okay right now,” they won’t be judged or diminished.
This is where trust is built. Not in grand gestures, but in how you show up when things are hard.
You don’t have to carry it all for them. You just have to create a place where they don’t have to carry it alone.
And honestly – that might be the most powerful leadership move you can make.