Work Stress? Your manager might be able to help.
As per a report by stress.org, 35% of respondents said their main source of stress at work was their boss.
Stress is not a disease in itself, but it can lead to a lot of physical and mental health issues. We all have felt stress at some point in life, but it is quite hard to explain it. It is the overwhelming feeling that you get under pressure or anxiousness that you feel with fear of the unknown. Headaches, lack of sleep, and exhaustion are some of the most common physical symptoms of Stress. According to American Psychological Association, 77% percent of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, shockingly 61% of the time cause of the stress is work-related [1]. These are pre-pandemic numbers, I am sure during pandemic these numbers look even worse.
It is concerning that more than half of the time Stress is because of work. As per another report by stress.org, "35% of respondents said their main source of stress at work was their boss". The stress at work is not actually about the work itself but it is about how people are being managed. Work stress does not stay at work it can eventually creep up and affect your physical health, family, and relationships along with your mental peace. It is amazing to see how much impact you can have on people's lives as a Leader or Manager.
"With great power, there must also come great responsibility"
Due to absenteeism and low productivity, Stress can cost billions in lost revenue to Organizations. Companies have been working on helping employees. The majority of companies provide learning resources, flexible time off, and various mental support and wellness programs. But data shows that majority of the work stress is caused by the employee's direct boss. So Managers need to be more mindful of these facts. Here are some of the things Managers can do to relieve the work stress for employees:
Appreciate: A little appreciation goes a long way. We humans always seek validation of our efforts. Be on the lookout to find good deeds of people and appreciate. Everyone has something that can be appreciated. Recognize it and highlight it. Most of the companies have different employee appreciation programs like spot bonuses or gift cards that remain unused, make use of these programs.
Team bonding: Encourage people to help each other. Team members should be a support system for each other. When people are stressed they are more likely to talk to a team member than calling your companies mental support line. Include team activities in your staff meetings, organize team outings, and promote group events like hackathons, group fitness challenges etc.
"Focus on building a Super Team instead of Super Heros", WhiteBeltThinker
Flexibility: Promote productivity over availability. Let people choose their working hours and honor that. Flexibility gives you more control and reduces work pressure. We do have research showing, How time-flexible work policies can reduce stress and improve health[2]. On top of that, Flexibility is the universal interest of Millennials and Gen Z generation.
Clear and Reasonable Expectations: Stress comes from unknowns. When people do not know what is expected from them or what they can do to be successful, that causes chaos and anxiety. Also, when people have a lot on their plate that can be overwhelming. Context switching and juggling multiple tasks can cause a lot of stress. Make sure you know their abilities, skills, and limits. Set very clear and reasonable expectations. Define clear criteria and metrics to measure the success of their goal.
Last but not least, be the role model. Conventional wisdom says, "Arrive before your boss, and don’t leave until she does". Be mindful of your actions and what message are you sending when you are scheduling those late-night meetings. Your actions speak louder than your words.
[1]https://www.stress.org/stress-research
[2]Halpern, Diane. (2005). How time-flexible work policies can reduce stress, improve health, and save money. Stress and Health. 21. 157-168. 10.1002/smi.1049.