Good Stress: How the Right Pressure Can Power Performance

When we talk about stress in the workplace, it usually comes with negative connotations: burnout, anxiety, and sleepless nights. It’s no surprise that most HR strategies focus on reducing or removing stress altogether. But here’s the thing — not all stress is harmful. Some stress is not only helpful but essential for growth, engagement, and performance.

This isn’t just wishful thinking. Science backs it up. Psychologists call it eustress — positive stress that energises us sharpens our thinking, and keeps us motivated to achieve our goals. Think of it as the “sweet spot” between boredom and burnout.

Why Good Stress Matters

Eustress plays an important role in our working lives. It’s the adrenaline that helps you nail a big presentation. The energy that fuels problem-solving in high-stakes situations. The slight pressure of a deadline that keeps you focused rather than distracted by the never-ending scroll of your inbox.

When managed well, this healthy level of stress can:

• Boost energy and productivity
• Sharpen focus and creativity
• Improve resilience and confidence
• Increase engagement and sense of achievement

But the challenge, of course, is creating an environment where good stress thrives — without tipping over into harmful territory.

How to Introduce Good Stress at Work

Here’s where it gets practical. As leaders, managers, and HR professionals, we can create the conditions for eustress to flourish. Here’s how:

1. Set Stretch Goals (Without Breaking People)
Targets should be ambitious but achievable. Stretch goals give people a reason to push themselves, but they need to feel within reach — otherwise, you’re just adding anxiety to the mix.

2. Create a Safe Space for Challenges
Encourage open dialogue about challenges. Problem-solving as a team reduces the individual burden and builds collective resilience. Shared pressure feels less isolating and can even be motivating.

3. Celebrate Progress, Not Just Outcomes
Acknowledging small wins along the way keeps momentum high. Recognition fuels positive stress and reminds people that their efforts are valued.

4. Offer Variety and Autonomy
Monotony leads to disengagement, while too much chaos leads to overwhelm. A healthy balance of varied tasks, with a degree of control over how work is done, helps maintain that productive tension.

5. Support, Support, Support
High challenge requires high support. Regular check-ins, coaching, and access to resources are essential safety nets to stop good stress turning toxic.

Final Thoughts: Stress is Not the Villain

The goal isn’t to eliminate stress entirely — that’s both impossible and counterproductive. Some stress is not only inevitable but vital for growth and success.

Our role as HR professionals and leaders is to help our teams find that balance. Create environments where healthy pressure is embraced, where people feel stretched but supported, and where the workplace becomes a space for growth, not just survival.

Because at the end of the day, diamonds are only made under pressure 💎