Anxiety Is Contagious. So Is Calm.

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Hey Spark Family,

Lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing from leaders and teams alike: people are anxious.

Anxious about the economy. About job security. About technology. About what’s next.

And anxiety doesn’t just sit quietly inside one person. It spreads. When one person is on edge, that energy ripples through a team.

The good news? Calm spreads too. Leaders have more influence than they realize in shaping whether anxiety spirals or steadies.

The Research Is Clear

➡ HBR (2025): Workers report being more anxious, worn down, and demoralized than ever - and leaders are on the front lines of that energy.
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➡ APA (2025): Nearly 1 in 5 employees say work stress is severely harming their mental health.

➡ Gallup (2025): Teams with leaders who acknowledge challenges and reinforce direction report 31% higher engagement and 25% less burnout.

➡ SHRM (2024): Transparency and psychological safety are two of the strongest buffers against workplace anxiety.

Leaders may not be able to remove every stressor, but they can create pockets of stability and trust.

What I'm Seeing In The Field

Leaders often feel pressure to fix their team’s anxiety, and that weight only adds to their own.

What works better is creating small, intentional moments of calm.

When leaders slow down, acknowledge the tension without dramatizing it, and help people focus on what they can control, anxiety loses its grip.

The leaders I see making the biggest impact are the ones who normalize conversations about stress while giving their teams clarity about priorities. That combination builds trust and steadiness.

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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance

Here’s how we guide leaders to keep teams steady in anxious times:

1. Name it without magnifying it.​
   Say, “I know there’s uncertainty, and it’s natural to feel anxious. Here’s what we do know and what we’re focusing on.”
2. Anchor in clarity.​
   Ambiguity fuels anxiety. Even when outcomes are uncertain, clarity around direction and values creates steadiness.
3. Create breathing room.​
   Anxiety thrives in nonstop pressure. Predictable rhythms and small pauses help teams reset.
4. Model calm confidence.​
   Your presence sets the tone. Regulate yourself first, so your energy steadies rather than spikes the team’s.

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🌟 Your Challenge This Week

Pause and ask yourself:

• Where might my own anxiety be showing up for my team?
• What’s one clear message I can repeat to anchor us this week?
• How can I model calm in small but visible ways?

Your team doesn’t need you to erase their anxiety. They need you to show them how to move forward with steadiness and trust.

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With gratitude,
​Jackie

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P.S. – If your team is carrying more anxiety than energy right now, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Reply to this email to explore how Spark Brilliance can help you build calm, resilient teams that thrive even in uncertain times. ✨

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