Seven steps to successful leadership in stressful times.

Change is everywhere. If you're stressed out from restructuring or budget cuts, you are not alone. "People face so many internal and external distractions, each day you are competing for their time, attention and creative energy," said Dr. Mark J. Tager, president of the ChangeWell training and consulting firm. Wars, personal crises and a rapidly changing work environment compete for peoples' attention.

Change thrust on us is harder to tolerate than change we initiate. "We feel at a loss and out of control, and we usually have employees under us who feel the same way," said Sherry M. Wilson, director of work/life and employee assistance programs at the University ...