Learn to Use Eustress to Your Advantage.

Hans Selye, a medical doctor and chemist, coined the words, “stress, eustress and distress” in the 1940s to describe how people and animals responded to injury, chronic illness and disease. These symptoms were so common that he observed them over and over.

Eustress is the amount of stress required to be beneficial to help people learn, stay motivated and stay engaged. Though not exactly the same, you might think of this as stretch goals. You know the excitement you feel at a new challenge? That’s eustress.

Too much stress creates fear, anxiety and burnout.

Not enough stress and people become bored and unmotivated and disinterested.

Leaders need to be able to gauge where their followers are on the esutress curve. All people need a certain amount of stress to remain motivated and productive.