something that he learned. Focus on what matters Spiro Haralambopoulos of LeasePlan creates a framework for thinking that helps him stay focused. "I've created a model in my mind related to the world economy, industry trends, implications for each sector and the actions my clients need to take. I'm always updating and adjusting that according to clients' feedback and from my study." Know your environment Michael Trail, CEO of Social Ventures Australia for the last 10 years, says he spends at least 10 to 20 per cent of his time absorbing relevant information from a wide variety of sources.  "I need to be responsive to data that indicates changes in the environment we're operating in. I take notes on documents I read and convert that into a one-page summary, then keep that up to date," says Trail, who has trained his staff to synthesise information before sharing it. He also attributes some of his mental acumen to his daily fitness regime. "Invariably I get perspective and insights after some exercise," he says. Make the most of control There's also a psychological resource available to all CEOs that can leave them less stressed than the rest of us, according to a recent US study of stress hormone levels in 148 government and military officials. Leaders had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and reported less anxiety than non-leaders. This was attributed to the leaders' greater sense of control, which is well known for its stress-buffering effects. Don't go it alone