One Move Every Leader Can Make to Beat Stress and Gain Clarity – Interview with Martin R. Mendelson

Stress, decision fatigue, and overwhelm have become the hidden costs of leadership. But what if clarity wasn’t as far away as it feels? In this interview, Dr. Martin Mendelson shares how one move, rooted in mindset science and his TEAM™ framework, can help leaders shift from reactive to intentional and thrive with optimism.

Martin R. Mendelson, Executive Coach, Speaker, and Author

What was the turning point that led you from dentistry into leadership coaching?

It happened in my kitchen. After my first round of surgeries on my hand, I couldn’t even open a packet of Sweet’N Low. I started to panic, and then it happened, the shift I now call one move of thought. I told myself, “Ok, Martin, if this is what the universe has in store for you, then you will be OK. Not sure how, but you will.” That was the moment I stopped resisting my reality and started reimagining what was possible. It became the foundation for everything I do today.

What is the TEAM™ framework, and how does it help leaders manage overwhelm?

TEAM™ stands for Thoughts, Emotions, Actions, and Manifestations. The idea came into focus for me while reading Viktor Frankl’s classic, Man’s Search for Meaning. Our thoughts drive our emotions, our emotions drive our actions, and our actions create the results or manifestations we see in life and leadership. For leaders facing overwhelm, TEAM™ provides a simple roadmap, master your thoughts, and you change your results.

Why do you say optimism is more than a mindset, it’s a leadership strategy?

Optimism is not just about “thinking positive.” It’s a skill. Research like Barbara Fredrickson’s Broaden and Build Theory shows that positive emotional states literally expand our capacity to see options and solve problems. The future hasn’t happened yet, so when you look at challenges with an optimistic lens, you access opportunities that a negatively primed brain simply can’t see. Optimism broadens perspective, and leaders who practice it make better decisions under pressure.

What’s one practical move leaders can make today to lighten their leadership burden?

Start by using TEAM. Specifically, practice curiosity instead of judgment. Imagine a team member misses a deadline. If you immediately judge them as “not capable,” you shut down possibilities. But if you get curious about their motivations. Why did this happen? What’s blocking them? You open the door to new ways of leading them toward success. That single shift, from judgment to curiosity, is often the one move that changes the entire outcome.

Your upcoming book is called One Move Makes All the Difference. What can readers expect from it?

Burnout has become an epidemic, with 77% of professionals experiencing it at some point in their careers. One Move Makes All the Difference offers a science-backed solution for leaders and high achievers struggling with overwhelm, decision fatigue, and work-life imbalance.

This transformative guide introduces a four-step framework designed to help professionals rewire thinking patterns, enhance decision-making under pressure, and regain control of their time and energy. Unlike theory-heavy leadership books, One Move provides clear, actionable strategies and 10 powerful exercises that readers can use immediately.

It’s not just about motivation, it’s about action. Readers will learn how to push past fear and doubt, develop clarity, and create practical plans that lead to real results. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, student, or someone facing personal challenges, One Move provides tools to reframe your thinking, reset your priorities, and move forward with confidence.

Want to learn more about how one move can transform your leadership and life? Pre-order One Move Makes All the Difference, connect with Dr. Martin Mendelson on LinkedIn, or explore his programs at Metamorphosis Coaching.

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