How to Manage Workplace Stress, Part 2
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This document outlines strategies for leaders and managers to help employees manage workplace stress effectively, emphasizing the need for a psychologically healthy work environment. It identifies common stressors such as financial uncertainty, lack of job security, limited opportunities, negative relationships, and unpleasant working conditions, along with potential remedies for each issue. The goal is to create a supportive atmosphere that enhances employee well-being and overall organizational success.
How to Manage Workplace Stress, Part 2
- 1. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU A 4-PART SERIES BY ROS CARDINAL WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE
- 2. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE In this installment of our 4-part series, we'll review helpful strategies leaders and managers can use to assist their employees in managing workplace stress effectively in order to create a healthier work environment.
- 3. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE According to a recent study, approximately 40% of employees experience persistent stress or excessive anxiety on a daily basis in the workplace.
- 4. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE Jeanne Segal, Ph.D. over at helpguide.org has this to say: “Stress isn’t always bad. Stress within your comfort zone can help you stay focused, energetic, and able to meet new challenges in the workplace. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation or alert to prevent accidents or costly mistakes at work."
- 5. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE "But in today’s hectic world, the workplace can often seem like an emotional roller coaster. Long hours, tight deadlines, and ever increasing demands can leave you feeling...overwhelmed by stress. When stress exceeds your comfort zone, it stops being helpful and can start causing major damage to your mind and body as well as your job satisfaction.”
- 6. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE Therefore, “Creating a psychologically healthy workplace is good for employees and business results,” says Norman B. Anderson, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association. “This is a growing trend and it is our hope that all organizations will eventually have some type of psychologically healthy workplace program.”
- 7. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE The question is: How can leaders assist their employees in managing workplace stress effectively in order to create a healthier work environment?
- 8. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE To answer this question, we must examine the most common contributing factors to stress.
- 9. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 1. Money For many people, the economy feels strained, leaving them with no other choice than to live paycheck to paycheck. This unfortunately means that such people don’t have the means to create a financial cushion should they ever be laid off. In fact, many employees may stress over whether or not they’ll receive their paychecks on time.
- 10. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 1. Money One good way to remedy this is to educate your employees at least quarterly on the financial stability of the company. You may want to also consider providing financial stewardship resources to employees. This can take the form of lunch-and-learn programs where you bring in a financial expert, one-on-one coaching, or more robust workshops.
- 11. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 1. Money When your employees feel financially secure, they’re able to show up to their work with 100% of their mind and heart invested because money becomes one less thing they have to worry over.
- 12. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 2. Lack of Job Security Many employees question whether or not they have a future with a company. Will they ever get promoted? Will they ever get a raise? Or will they be laid off at the first downturn? These days, especially with older employees, it isn’t so easy to simply transition from one job to another.
- 13. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 2. Lack of Job Security One way to remedy this is to implement regular performance reviews —preferably on a quarterly basis. This demonstrates to employees that their hard work is not being overlooked and also creates an open forum where they can discuss any challenges with or expectations of their career.
- 14. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 3. Lack of Opportunities Do you know which team members are interested in advancing within the company? Who is hoping to climb the ranks to perhaps one day lead a team of their own? Unfortunately, some employees feel as if they’ll always be at the lower rungs of the company hierarchy.
- 15. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 3. Lack of Opportunities Consider having one-on-one conversations with your employees and get to know what their goals are. Then connect them with the right resources (be it a mentor or further training) to help facilitate their forward-motion.
- 16. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 4. Negative Relationships According to a recent study, 67% of workers reported that having friends at work makes their job more fun and enjoyable. Human beings are social beings, which means that we crave healthy, empowering relationships the way we crave air, food, and water.
- 17. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 4. Negative Relationships In the workplace, not everyone will get along, but what you can do is identify team members who are natural-born leaders. These individuals have phenomenal interpersonal skills and can foster teamwork among your employees, ensuring that everyone feels like they belong.
- 18. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 5. An Unpleasant Working Environment This goes hand-in-hand with the preceding factor, since negative relationships can make for an unpleasant working environment. How to fix this? Hold team-building activities. These activities can help your employees get to know each other better, and can also help to break up routine.
- 19. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE 5. An Unpleasant Working Environment Celebrating people’s birthdays and other special occasions, for example, is a great way to have a bit of fun and lighten the mood in a working environment. Many other companies have started to introduce perks at the workplace such as napping rooms, on-site fitness centers, free massages, free food, and more.
- 20. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE The contributing factors to stress are many, but fortunately, so are the solutions. When leaders who are dedicated to the well-being of their employees commit themselves to creating healthier and happier working environments, they not only invest in their team but in the company’s overall well-being as well.
- 21. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE A company can only be as strong as its moving parts, after all. Which of the five strategies discussed will you start implementing in the workplace to help your employees combat stress?
- 22. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE In Part 3 of this series, we'll examine 5 more factors that contribute to workplace stress, and how leaders can troubleshoot them.
- 23. WWW.SHAPINGCHANGE.COM.AU HOW TO MANAGE WORKPLACE STRESS WORKPLACE STRESS HOW TO MANAGE We hope you enjoyed this presentation! Visit www.shapingchange.com.au for more resources on leadership development, change management, emotional intelligence, and more!