Question for you: What are you doing to stay centered amidst all the stress around you?

We’re leading in constant noise—shifting job markets, nonstop news, social media, political tension—on top of already full careers and lives. It doesn’t take much to get triggered or pulled off track.

I recently delivered a speech to leadership team at a nonprofit I care deeply about. We discussed how to stay grounded and keep up positive high touch relationships and do high-impact work when people get stressed out.

Here’s the simple 3-step process I shared:

PAUSE. REFLECT. CHOOSE.

It takes 1–2 minutes—and it can completely shift how you show up and react to stress.

1. PAUSE
Stop. Breathe—fully in, fully out. Slowly and deeply.
That moment alone interrupts the stress response before it takes over. Stop talking and doing. No one will notice you are breathing deeply, except for you (in stress response our breath and blood pumping  speed up and create anxiety in the body).

2. REFLECT
Turn inward. What are you thinking? Feeling? What got triggered?
Get honest about your state—and refocus on what outcome you actually want in the situation. Stay with you and your state, what you can control. Not blaming the other people or situation.

3. CHOOSE
From a centered place, choose your response.
Align your thoughts and actions with who you want to be—and the outcome you want to create. If you can’t quite get to the positive state or action because you are emotionally triggered, do something to get grounded and reflect. Essentially go back to the 1-2-3 steps.

This practice isn’t just about feeling better and being calmer.
It changes how you lead, how you relate to others, and the results you create.

Try it. Use it in real time. And tell me how it goes…

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I’m also excited to share a new expansion and chapter in my work….

I’ve partnered with Vistage, the world’s largest CEO coaching organization who has been developing senior leaders for 65 years. As a Vistage Chair, I’m building a CEO Peer Advisory Group in Southeast Michigan.

I love the power of a Peer Advisory group model to help leaders be more effective and achieve their business and personal goals, together in community.

This work is deeply aligned with my purpose—empowering leaders who care about their impact, their people, and purpose and how they show up, and its local in my area, which feels even more special.

If you’re a CEO or business owner in the Detroit/Ann Arbor/Flint area—or know someone who is that wants to grow with other high performing leaders, let’s talk, reply here.

 Learn more about Vistage: www.vistagemichigan.com

     

 

 

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Speaking of Purpose-Driven Leadership…

I recently delivered a talk on my framework for Purpose Discovery. The response was powerful—leaders gaining career inspiring clarity on their work and lives!

If your team is ready to reconnect to its purposeful mission in a deeper way, reach out and check out speaker info at Book to Speak.

 And if you’re personally exploring a more purposeful career, business or path, I’ve created a free Purpose Roadmap, you can grab it here: jentodd.com

 

 

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Thanks for being part of my community. I always love to hear from you, if anything I shared here resonated, reach out and shoot me an email or my socials below. Hearing from you inspires me to keep living my purpose!