Stress Isn’t the Enemy: The Science of Peak Leadership Performance | Sebastien Page
The Art of Charm
The Dynamics of Stress and Leadership Performance
This chapter explores how sports psychology, self-awareness, and positive psychology intertwine to shape effective leadership. It delves into the effects of stress on performance, the challenges of pursuing ambitious goals, and the impact of facial expressions on team dynamics.
In this episode of The Art of Charm, we sit down with Sebastien Page — Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price and author of The Psychology of Leadership — to explore what world-class leadership really looks like.
Blending sports psychology, positive psychology, and personality science, Sebastien unpacks the mental habits of resilient leaders, the science behind stress optimization, and the silent traps that sabotage ambition. He reveals why perfection isn't the goal, why some stress is critical to peak performance, and why goals—if unchecked—can lead to ethical and personal blind spots.
If you're a driven professional seeking clarity, impact, and self-mastery, this conversation will give you a psychological edge that most leaders miss.
What to Listen For
[00:00] Why “no stress” is not the goal — and why some stress makes you perform better
[00:06:41] The misunderstood link between flow, performance, and leadership engagement
[00:10:01] Stress tolerance affects team dynamics
[00:13:59] The dangerous myth of the “always calm” leader
[00:17:07] The hidden power of quality relationships in long-term success
[00:21:29] Why goal setting without wisdom leads to burnout or regret
[00:38:44] Defining your own core values vs. chasing someone else's metrics
[00:42:30] The Big Five Personality Traits and how they transform leadership empathy
[00:56:59] How to harness social comparison as a competitive advantage — without letting it destroy your self-worth
Episode Takeaways:
- Stress is not the enemy. Managed correctly, it’s the fuel for your best performance and presence.
- Leadership doesn’t mean suppressing emotion. It means learning how to channel it to create clarity for others.
- Goal setting is powerful — but without meaning, you risk losing everything that matters chasing things that don’t.
- Self-awareness begins with understanding how your personality shapes your leadership
- Don’t wait for “the perfect team.” Instead, test, adapt, and build self-aware systems that evolve with context.
- Your most important asset isn’t strategy — it’s trust.
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Resources from this Episode
Harvard’s 80-year study on happiness and relationships
The Yerkes-Dodson Law (stress vs. performance curve)
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