Here, we have put together a list of ways managers can decrease stress at the workplace, which will help keep employees happier, healthier, and more motivated to work. In this article, not only are we going to look at different causes of stress, but also we are going to guide both you and your managers in ways that can help to decrease workplace stress and keep your employees supported. Workplace stress is here to stay, but there are plenty of ways that you can support your employees and managers in decreasing and managing their stress in their jobs. These simple steps can help reduce workplace stress, and it not only improves your employees lives, you create a dedicated group of employees that love coming to work every day.
Even when there is stress, create a productive work environment and help your employees learn to participate in stress management in positive ways. It might seem counterintuitive to introduce diversions to your workplace, but giving your employees a chance to unwind throughout the day can help them cope with workplace stress, as well as increase productivity and employee morale. While it is not practical for every company, giving employees a little flexibility on when and where they work can make a big difference when it comes to stress reduction.
Allowing employees to work remotely, or set their own hours, helps them keep management effective while keeping stress levels down. Allowing employees to occasionally work from home is another proven method of successfully motivating them, and helps them to feel more relaxed while working. If your employees are doing work that can be done remotely, then also consider days when they are allowed to work from home, as long as this makes their lives easier. One easy way to decrease stress is simply by making sure employees are actually taking the allotted days off.
Creating a routine where employees get help with stress if needed is crucial, but there is also plenty that you as the manager can do to prevent employees from feeling stressed in the first place. A great manager takes the initiative to help his or her team members, finding out ways to mitigate workplace stress. There are a number of steps that you can take as a manager to address stress and ensure that your employees are healthy and happy at work. Instead, employers should move toward an organizational-wide approach to stress reduction in the workplace–one that promotes employees wellbeing while improving the performance of the company.
While employers cannot eliminate every possible stressor from their employees, nor guarantee they never feel overloaded by their job, they can implement changes that will help stress become manageable. There are plenty of ways to model healthy stress-management behaviors for your employees, and cultivate group habits that contribute to reducing stress at the workplace. In fact, managers have a significant role in modeling healthy behaviors, and they can even provide coaching for employees in order to increase productivity and decrease stress. Managers can serve as a positive role model, particularly during times of high stress, by following the tips in this article.
As a manager, it is important that you maintain your cool in times of stress, because your attitude has an immediate impact on your employees. If an esteemed manager is able to stay calm in tense working situations, then his employees will find it far easier to stay calm too. As a manager, understanding the major stressors of your employees, and working with them to address those, not only shows your team you care, it will encourage them to work more efficiently.
Remember, it is up to you to set the culture at your workplace, and if the culture you are creating is one of long hours and poor work/life balance, then you are likely the primary contributor to the stress levels of your employees. Workplace stress is likely to begin with work itself, because employees will feel they do not have enough energy, focus, or motivation to perform the tasks they do on a daily basis. Stress is a normal part of work and life, but too much can take its toll on a teams morale and productivity. In a paper by the American Institute on Stress, 46% of major causes of stress are an employees workload, followed by interpersonal issues at 28%, followed by the difficulty juggling work and personal life, and job security at 6%.
In addition to impairing work performance and satisfaction, chronic or extreme stress may lead to physical and emotional health problems. Remember, too much stress will hinder your employees performance and performance, as well as affect their mental and physical health. Working on a high-stress task for an extended period will result in poor work and employee health. If your employees are feeling the deep effects of stress, chances are that their mental and physical health is suffering, too.
Employees suffering from job-related stress may result in lower productivity, lost days, and higher staff turnover. Prolonged, extreme workplace stress may result in reduced engagement, burnout, and decohesion in the team. The most common causes of stress in the workplace for employees include a bad company culture, overwork, poor management, and a lack of communication from managers and other leaders.
Reducing stress exposures to help prevent job burnout is the best step that any organization can take in improving the culture of their business and driving success for their teams. Offering stress management workshops for employees is an excellent investment in wellness in the workplace, which may contribute to better worker morale.
Get this right, and employees will be able to manage stress and keep their emotional balance and mental health in the workplace. While the first line of defense against work-related stress should be to change your workplace, it is also beneficial to educate employees about stress symptoms, causes, and treatments. Employees may experience stress when the work environment influences unhealthy behaviors, such as unhealthy eating habits, short or infrequent breaks, or a poor work-life balance. According to the World Health Organization, stress related to work may result from bad job organizations, bad job designs, bad management, poor work conditions, and a lack of support from coworkers and supervisors.