Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
CSTS | Department of Psychiatry | Uniformed Services University | 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799 | www.CSTSonline.org

Military Leadership in
Stressful Situations
Leadership during stressful■ Ask your people how they aresituations is a challenging task. It
doing and listen to what they say
This document provides an overview
requires leaders to manage large
without interrupting.
of important aspects of leading during
quantities of evolving information■ Respond empathically andstressful situations, including: effective
during increased operational tempo.
without judgment or criticism.
Leaders must also communicate
communication, early interventions,■ Reassure people that it is okay toeffectively with people that are being
have their feelings and you aresupporting grief, and managing stress.
pushed to their limits. Understanding
there to help.
principles for managing stressful and■ Stay calm when people aretraumatic situations helps leaders toangry; when redirecting someone, be firm but keep
be more effective. When bad things happen, leaders can help
your cool.
their people by understanding how to acknowledge andsupport the normal grief that occurs. Throughout stressfulsituations, leaders must also manage their own well-being to Early Interventions
Following a stressful situation, leaders can help
ultimately ensure operational effectiveness.
their people by using established early interventions.
This document provides an overview of important
These principles, often called Psychological First Aid
aspects of leading during stressful situations, including:(PFA), are designed to be used by everyone, not justeffective communication, early interventions, supporting
healthcare providers. PFA focuses on establishing agrief, and managing stress.
sense of safety, helping people feel calm, creating hope or
optimism, connecting with others, and encouraging selfCommunication
reliance. Below are ways in which a leader can use early
Effective communication is essential during stressfulinterventions to support their personnel after a stressful
events and reduces personnel distress, builds rapport,
situation:enhances functioning, and improves operational success.
Leaders who communicate effectively spend 90% of the■ Help people ensure they meet basic needs for food,time listening and 10% talking. On the other hand, poor orwater, and rest.
absent communication increases the likelihood of rumors,■ Listen when people want to share their stories anddamages trust, reduces credibility, and injures morale. Theemotions; remember there is no right way to feel.
following principles can help a leader to communicate■ Be friendly and compassionate even when people are
effectively about stressful situations:being difficult.
■ Anticipate potential stressors and plan what you will say■ Assist people to stay in touch with co-workers, friends,in advance.
and family.
■ Provide information promptly after a stressful incident.
■ Give practical suggestions to steer people toward■ Give only truthful information; say what you know andhelping themselves.
what you don’t know.
■ Engage people in meeting their own needs.
■ When more information is needed, commit to following■ Remind people you and others are there to help.
up and then do so.
■ Support personnel in accessing others services■ Tell people when to expect updates and provide them in(financial, chaplain, mental health, etc).
a timely manner; sometimes even telling people there is■ Don’t force people to talk about their stories.
no new information is helpful.
Continued

■ Avoid simple reassurances like “everything will be okay”■■■■

or “it’s not that bad”.
Don’t tell people what you think they should feel, think,or do, or how they should have reacted.
Don’t tell people why you think they are hurting or
suffering.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
Don’t criticize support services or higher level
leadership.

Grief
Leaders play a critical role in helping people recoverafter a stressful situation, particularly after bad orundesirable outcomes. Understanding how people react tostressful or tragic events is critical to effective leadership.
Early grief can include: waves of sadness, irritability,
intrusive images of stressful events, social isolation, andavoiding things that remind people of the stressful event.
For some, grief may be delayed and, for others, it may not
be evident. Remember that people process informationdifferently in stressful situations. As a result, effective
communication (discussed earlier) is an important part ofhelping people manage grief. Below are additional steps aleader can take to help people manage grief:■ Be visible to your personnel and speak in publiclocations.
■ Give accurate and timely information.
■ Keep messages simple and repeat them frequently.
■ Speak calmly and encourage working together.
■ Know the status of existing and available resources.
■ Provide policy guidance without micromanagement.
■ Create or support the use of rituals and symbolic
activities that help personnel grieve.
■ Attend and support personnel attendance at memorials
to assist with healing; allow yourself to experience anygrief you have.
■ Provide common goals for direction.
■ Avoid blaming others; this can enhance anger andstigma.

in others requires leading by example. Because leadership is
critical to ensure organized and efficient work, high stresssituations require special measures for leaders to deal with
their own stress. It can be difficult for a leader to predict
how any given stressful situation will impact them, but thefollowing plan can help minimize difficulties:■ Establish a work-rest cycle for yourself and follow it.
■ Ensure you have a rest area with fluids and food.
■ Drink and eat on a regular schedule; ensure you stay
hydrated.
■ Get off your feet during breaks.
■ Provide a minimum of 4 hours of sleep during each 24
hour period; 7-8 hours is more ideal.
■ Return home for food and rest whenever possible.
■ Avoid alcohol and tobacco use as much as possible.
■ Limit caffeine use because it can increase stress, worsen
sleep, and dehydrate you.
■ Identify a trusted co-worker who can evaluate youreffectiveness and consult with them daily.
■ Communicate clearly in an optimistic manner, but
identify mistakes for yourself and others and correctthem.
■ Compliments can serve as powerful motivators andreduce stress of your personnel.
Effective leadership during stressful events resultsfrom preparation and implementation of importantprinciples. Communication, early interventions through
PFA, supporting grief, and personal stress management forleaders increase operational effectiveness and opportunity
for mission success.
Additional Resources
Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress fact sheets
https://www.cstsonline.org/fact-sheet-menu/fact-sheet-search
Leadership Communication: Anticipating and Responding
to Stressful Situations
Psychological First Aid
Grief Leadership: Leadership in the Wake of Tragedy
Leadership Stress Management

Stress Management
In order for leaders to take care of others, they mustfirst take care of themselves. In other words, reducing stressCenter for the Study of Traumatic Stress
Department of Psychiatry
Uniformed Services University
4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
www.CSTSonline.org