At the start of this year, our Lead Consultant at Fanisi HR Solutions did something many business owners overlook she brought the entire team together for strategic sessions that didn’t feel like punishment.
There was no PowerPoint fatigue. No 6-hour lectures, just honest conversations, practical planning and well-timed snack breaks. We reconnected with our mission, aligned on our goals and tackled areas where we had gaps. Not with panic or passive-aggressive emails but with training.
In many workplaces, if you don’t know something, you get labelled as a “problem.” In ours, the message was:
“If there’s a gap, let’s bridge it. If there’s a process missing, let’s build it.”
We even built internal systems to streamline our work and we’ve actually been using them (shocking, right?). The result? A motivated, confident and shockingly organized team.
This whole experience reminded us:
Leadership isn’t about breathing down people’s necks, it’s about giving them space to breathe and succeed.
The Pressure Paradox
We get it, pressure is part of business. Deadlines, client drama, and “just one last change” emails at 4:59pm on Friday are part of the hustle. Especially in fast-paced markets like Nairobi, Accra or Lagos.
But when pressure becomes the default leadership style, you’re not driving performance, you’re driving people into quiet quitting (or loud complaining in the tea area).
Let’s paint the picture:
- Meeting at 9 am? The agenda lands at 8:59. Everyone nods, pretending to know what’s happening.
- New hire joins? No induction. Just “figure it out,” a broken chair and a laptop that still belongs to the last guy, complete with his desktop wallpaper and Spotify playlist.
- Targets missed? The solution: longer hours, “urgent” strategy meetings and motivational quotes on WhatsApp.
That’s not pressure. That’s not leadership, it’s just organized confusion.
A Real Lesson from June 2025
Now, let’s get serious for a moment.
During the maandamanos (demonstrations) in Kenya in June 2025, many employees were torn, risk their lives to show up or stay home and risk being labelled uncommitted?
Some showed up through blocked roads and tear gas, just to avoid trouble with the boss.
But one of our clients did something different. They sent a simple but powerful message to staff:
“Don’t come in. Your safety comes first.”
No guilt trips. No veiled threats about loyalty. Just leadership with perspective. And guess what? The staff came back more loyal and engaged because trust had been built when it mattered.
Now THAT is leadership under pressure.
What Business Leaders Need to Hear
Whether you’re running a creative agency in Nairobi, a hardware shop in Kisumu or a hotel in Diani, the truth remains: pressure without leadership only produces stress, not success.
Here’s what you should consider:
1. Clarity Over Chaos
Don’t make your team guess what “urgent” means. Is it a fire, a client or just your own stress? Be clear. Always.
2. Systems Over Survival
If every task is a last-minute rush, it’s not your staff, it’s your planning. A simple checklist can do more than 10 motivational posters.
3. Feedback ≠ Firing Squad
One manager once said, “I only do performance reviews when I’m annoyed.” Sir. Madam. That’s not feedback, that’s emotional dumping, not performance management.
4. Train Your Managers
People don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses who think leading means micromanaging everything down to how someone breathes. Train your managers to lead with empathy, not ego.
The Real Question Isn’t About Pressure
Instead of asking “Can my team work well under pressure?”, ask:
- Am I the pressure?
- Are we operating from structure or survival?
- Do my people feel safe, clear and supported? Or just anxious and exhausted?
If your staff looks constantly stressed, confused or suspiciously excited on Fridays… the problem may not be them.
Final Thought (Before You Call Another Emergency Meeting)
Pressure can be healthy when it’s purpose-driven and short-term. But if your team is always operating in crisis mode, you don’t need a motivational speaker. You need systems, leadership training and maybe…a calendar.
If you’ve been the pressure, here’s your sign to change.
We help businesses build practical HR systems, develop real leadership capacity, and create workplaces where people thrive, not just survive. Want in? Let’s talk.