The Extraordinary Impact of a Non-Anxious Presence
-by Chris Cloud
Here’s a tale of two leaders, based on real people and organizations I’ve worked with:
Leader One – The Anxious Leader
This leader runs a $5 million business and deeply cares for her people and customers. However, she’s constantly overwhelmed. She often intervenes in team matters to help, but instead creates anxiety and chaos that the team later has to manage. She has trouble sleeping, finds it hard to let go, and works 60-70 hours a week. Her days are filled with firefighting and changing directions. Attracting or retaining top talent feels like an uphill battle, and she rarely has the energy for her family or passions outside of work. The stress creates an atmosphere where her team walks on eggshells. With shaky boundaries, she often feels taken advantage of. When she’s in a good mood, the team thrives; when she’s not, it’s a different story. Life feels out of control, and burnout is a real risk.
Leader Two – The Non-Anxious Presence
This leader also runs a $5 million business and cares deeply for her people and customers. She trusts her team, delegates effectively, and consistently attracts and retains top talent. She brings stability, sleeps well, and maintains a strong work-life balance, reserving her best energy for family and passions outside of work. Though she occasionally works long hours, she keeps those seasons short and prioritizes renewal, fitness, hobbies, family, and faith. Her team flourishes under her steady, supportive leadership. She maintains healthy boundaries with compassion and rarely feels taken advantage of. Her life feels sustainable and centered.
Now, which of these leaders is more common in the entrepreneurial world? Sadly, it’s the first. Many of us recognize ourselves in Leader One. Yet, the life of Leader Two is achievable—it’s not a pipe dream. I’ve seen it firsthand in leaders I work with.
The difference lies in one core element: becoming a non-anxious presence. Notice how anxiety pervades the life of Leader One, seeping into every relationship and interaction.
How to Cultivate a Non-Anxious Presence
Non-anxious leaders know that real work begins within. They prioritize emotional intelligence, spiritual health, and inner healing—it’s ongoing, daily work.
Their identity isn’t tied to their business, and they know their value extends beyond productivity.
These leaders operate from a place of quiet confidence—grounded in faith, humble in knowing the world doesn’t revolve around them.
They trust others, establish healthy boundaries, and seek solitude and renewal, recognizing that their team’s success depends on their own inner stability.
Emotions are contagious. Highly contagious. Anxiety may be one of the most contagious emotions. And it works the other way too, calm peace are contagious as well.
There’s no single silver bullet to becoming a non-anxious presence, and none of us have fully “arrived.” But the more we nurture this spirit, the more we can work with calm and inspire those around us to thrive.
For further reading, see A Failure of Nerve by Edwin H. Friedman, which happens to be in our Canon of Books.
