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All stress and no play makes work dull: Managing stress on the job
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All stress and no play makes work dull: Managing stress on the job
Unrelenting stress, the kind many people face daily at work or at home is debilitating.
It has been labeled America`s number one health problem and with our current economy, stress is certainly mounting.
A few striking facts:
● It`s such a major factor that we have an agency, American Institute of Stress, devoted to it.
● According to AIS the job costs industry and business more than $300 billion a year.
● In a University of North Carolina study, 50 percent of employees reported that they achieved less due to stress created by a negative atmosphere and personal problems.
● 20 percent said they no longer did their best work while under nonstop stress.
● 46 percent thought about quitting their jobs because of stress, and 12 percent resigned.
It is easy to see how the dollars add up and know that the $300 billion price tag is not hype. For managers, the dilemma is how to coach through the chaos and get the work done without driving away their best workers.
How to do this? Managers need specific information about each employee to fight the symptoms of stress before they become apparent. Here are some ideas to move you on your way:
● Make sure your leadership is not creating the problem. Know your employee, but know yourself first and learn to communicate about business, updates and job requirements effectively.
● Assessments will show you whether the employee has the skills, motivation, interest and competencies to do the job he or she is in. If they are lacking, you should plan for development or consider a new position for the employee.
● Understand your employees` career goals and help them understand their roles in the organization and how they fit in the big picture.
● If the stress is not coming from within the workplace, suggest therapy or counseling. Don’t take it upon yourself to counsel if the stress is not job-related and outside your area of expertise.
● Encourage your employees to strive for balance in their lives.
● Let your employees know that short breaks throughout the day help relieve stress. Maybe send out a funny message on the PA system – it will at least get a few people to laugh.
Stress can make people behave strangely and lose the passion that drives them at work.
Even German composer Johannes Brahms took up writing music for another seven years after deciding to retire. “I was so delighted by the thought of not writing that the music came to me without effort!"
A good manager can help employees overcome work-related stress and help them develop a fresh perspective that allows them to rediscover delight in their work.
Source:
http://www.hr.com
It has been labeled America`s number one health problem and with our current economy, stress is certainly mounting.
A few striking facts:
● It`s such a major factor that we have an agency, American Institute of Stress, devoted to it.
● According to AIS the job costs industry and business more than $300 billion a year.
● In a University of North Carolina study, 50 percent of employees reported that they achieved less due to stress created by a negative atmosphere and personal problems.
● 20 percent said they no longer did their best work while under nonstop stress.
● 46 percent thought about quitting their jobs because of stress, and 12 percent resigned.
It is easy to see how the dollars add up and know that the $300 billion price tag is not hype. For managers, the dilemma is how to coach through the chaos and get the work done without driving away their best workers.
How to do this? Managers need specific information about each employee to fight the symptoms of stress before they become apparent. Here are some ideas to move you on your way:
● Make sure your leadership is not creating the problem. Know your employee, but know yourself first and learn to communicate about business, updates and job requirements effectively.
● Assessments will show you whether the employee has the skills, motivation, interest and competencies to do the job he or she is in. If they are lacking, you should plan for development or consider a new position for the employee.
● Understand your employees` career goals and help them understand their roles in the organization and how they fit in the big picture.
● If the stress is not coming from within the workplace, suggest therapy or counseling. Don’t take it upon yourself to counsel if the stress is not job-related and outside your area of expertise.
● Encourage your employees to strive for balance in their lives.
● Let your employees know that short breaks throughout the day help relieve stress. Maybe send out a funny message on the PA system – it will at least get a few people to laugh.
Stress can make people behave strangely and lose the passion that drives them at work.
Even German composer Johannes Brahms took up writing music for another seven years after deciding to retire. “I was so delighted by the thought of not writing that the music came to me without effort!"
A good manager can help employees overcome work-related stress and help them develop a fresh perspective that allows them to rediscover delight in their work.
Source:
http://www.hr.com
