Leading Under Pressure — For Business Owners
- Sarah Beth Herman
- Nov 13
- 6 min read
A Free Training for Entrepreneurs, Visionaries, and Virtual Leaders
Monday, a new episode of No Silver Spoons® drops — an episode about carrying success, managing the weight of leadership, and staying grounded when no one’s cheering. But before then, let’s talk about something many business owners don’t talk about enough: pressure. Because in running a company, pressure doesn’t ask for permission. It doesn’t wait for perfect timing. It just shows up.
If you’ve built anything — a team, a brand, a business, a vision — this applies to you. Pressure is the quiet companion to progress. It’s that whisper in your head when revenues are rising but your margins are thinning. It’s showing up when you’ve already given your all and you still need to keep giving. And if you are leading your business, you know this intimately.
The Hidden Pressure Points in Business Ownership
Running a business means juggling strategy, execution, teams, operations, finances and growth — all under your name and reputation. The challenge is real: according to recent leadership research, more than 60% of senior managers admit to feeling persistent pressure and anxiety in their roles (Storific, 2024). This kind of stress isn’t just about long hours — it’s about pressure that isn’t acknowledged, systems that aren’t built, and leadership that hopes “I’ll figure it out” is good enough.
In your business context, pressure may show up as:
High sales targets but increasing customer service breakdowns or recurring complaints.
A team working hard yet morale slipping because roles aren’t clearly defined or systems aren’t stable.
You as the business owner carrying the weight of every decision, every client issue, every operational fire.
Late nights that feel unproductive because you’re reacting rather than building for tomorrow.
The cost becomes obvious: employee turnover rises, growth stalls, the culture shifts to survival mode, and the leader feels unseen. Current studies show that organizations where leadership development is deprioritized face higher risk of breakdowns under pressure (Harvard Business Publishing, 2024). Translating that to the entrepreneurial level: when pressure mounts, leadership must shift.
Why Leadership Must Evolve When the Pressure Mounts
When the pressure gets loud, leadership needs to evolve — not just the tools you use, but how you show up. Effective business leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about creating an environment where the team is aligned, empowered, and supported.
Here’s what that looks like:
You have a clear vision and mission that is referenced regularly. When your team asks, “why are we doing this?” you already know the answer.
You set consistent expectations and measurable standards, so everyone knows what success looks like — not ambiguous hope but tangible outcomes.
You communicate — weekly check-ins, transparent updates, open door policies — so pressure doesn’t build in silence.
You build systems, not shortcuts. Because when pressure hits, a team with systems stands firm; a team without them cracks.
Let’s frame it this way: If your team doesn’t understand the purpose behind what they do, they’ll just “do tasks” and feel burdened. But when they know the why — they’re more likely to view pressure as purpose. Leadership under pressure means recognizing strain as a signal to lead differently, not as a reason to hide.
Three Actionable Strategies to Build Resilience in Your Business
Let’s turn this into action. If you’re feeling pressure in your business, apply these three drills this week:
1. Weekly “Pressure Check” Conversation
At the start of each week, take 5 minutes with your leadership team (or alone if you’re solo) and ask: What’s feeling heavy this week? Give space to the one thing each person is carrying. Voice is the first step to relief. When pressure is named early, it can be managed before it becomes burnout.
2. Clarify Roles & Responsibilities – The Responsibility Board
Use a physical whiteboard or digital board where roles, tasks, and owners are clearly defined. Example: “Client onboarding – Rachel” / “Billing follow-up – Sam” / “Product dev feed-back – Lauren”. When pressure builds, people don’t panic — they refer to the board and know their lane. This clarity is leadership’s best friend in high-growth, fast-moving businesses.
3. Celebrate the Micro-Wins
Pressure creates tunnel vision: you look at what’s wrong rather than what’s working. Create a ritual: at the end of each week ask: “One thing someone did this week that made a difference.” Say it aloud, write it down, share it. Research from the Journal of Positive Psychology (2024) shows that regular gratitude practices in workplaces reduce burnout by up to 45% and improve resilience by 32%. When you highlight the small wins, you balance out the heavy weight of what’s still ahead.
Changing the Narrative: Pressure as Privilege
Leadership guru John C. Maxwell says, “Pressure is a privilege — it means you’re trusted with something that matters.” And for business owners, that trust is obvious: people trust you with their livelihood, your team trusts you to lead, your clients trust you to deliver. If it feels heavy, that’s a sign your capacity has grown. You’re not broken — you’re being built.
When you start to view pressure as a pathway (not a punishment) your leadership posture changes. You stop hiding from the chaos and begin stewarding through it. You build better systems, you speak with clarity, you breathe more often. Because stress isn’t simply a sign of failure — it can be a sign of growth.
Why You Should Tune in to Monday’s Episode
On Monday, the new episode of No Silver Spoons® releases — and you’ll hear me unpack my personal business-owner story of leadership under pressure: scaling a company, dealing with relational strain, facing self-doubt, and learning to lead when applause died down. After reading this training, you’ll have the context to understand:
What happens when success lands, but the weight doesn’t lighten.
How leadership must adapt when the world expects your business show to keep going without a break.
How to support your team (and yourself) when your own foundation is shaking.
And how to keep moving based on purpose, not pressures.
If you want more than tips — if you want a mindset shift, a leadership posture that lasts past high growth and into sustainable impact — you’ll want to listen.
Free Training Resource: Your Pressure Plan
To accompany this week’s message, I’ve created a free training download called The Pressure Plan. Designed for business owners and leaders who feel the strain but want to build clarity, calm, and consistency. Inside this download you’ll get:
A “Pressure Audit” worksheet — to capture what’s loud vs what’s true in your week.
A 90-second grounding practice you can use before a tough call or high-stakes meeting.
Faith-rooted (if you’re faith-based) and neuroscience-backed affirmations to rewire your mindset for clarity and focus.
A 3-line daily reset to train your brain for purpose rather than panic.
Grab it through my website at sarahbethherman.com and keep it handy on your phone, tablet or print it for your office. Because leadership isn’t just done on the good days — it’s refined in the heavy ones.
Before You Go: One Final Thought
Every late night, every unsatisfied client, every “we didn’t hit the target” message, every team member who left — doesn’t mean you failed. It may mean you’re being prepared. If you feel the weight of leadership, recognize the privilege you carry someone trusted you when many didn’t. So, breathe. Pause. And say aloud: Keep going.
Because this Monday, we go deeper into what it means to lead under pressure — together.
References
Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning. (2024). 2024 Global Leadership Development Study: Time to Transform. Retrieved from https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/time-to-transform-discoveries-from-our-2024-global-leadersh…
Storific. (2024, August 16). Why top business leaders face anxiety and how to overcome it. Storific Blog. Retrieved from https://www.storific.com/blog/why-top-business-leaders-face-anxiety-and-how-to-overcome-it
Wells, R. (2023, December 10). 5 leadership trends that will shape 2024. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2023/12/10/5-leadership-trends-that-will-shape-2024/https://www.harvardbusiness.org/insight/time-to-transform-discoveries-from-our-2024-global-leadersh…
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Readers should consult with appropriate professionals for specific advice tailored to their circumstances. All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information and references; however, errors may occur. If you notice any inaccuracies or would like to suggest updates, please contact us at hey@sarahbethherman.com. © 2025 Sarah Beth Herman. All Rights Reserved. By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. This post may contain affiliate links, and we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. References included where known. Please email hey@sarahbethherman.com
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