Managing Stress in the Workplace (As an Employer)
An important part of my coaching process is improving employee-employer relationships in a professional setting. Stress management is perhaps one of the most important skills any employer can have as it enables him/her to maintain a healthy, efficient, and happy workforce. ​ Here are the top three questions you should ask yourself in order to help keep office stress in check:​
Have you opened the lines of communication? Your employees need to feel heard and valued. They need to know that their ideas and inputs are worth your (and everyone else's) while. Take the time to listen to your employees' concerns, whether it be in person, on the phone, or via email. Ensure that you respond appropriately instead of brushing them off - a proper conversation is a two-way street.
Do you support your employees and reward their hard work? Rewarding incentives are a great way to encourage employees to complete tasks on time and with the appropriate level of professionalism. Don't enforce this system as a bribe either - your employees should naturally want to do their best. Implementing scheduling and time tracking software is a fantastic way to ensure that everyone is on track. Bring Jenny in as an external coach – she is able to see things that might otherwise be overlooked as she has both an international and local perspective.
Have you learned to ask the right questions to inspire your employees? While stress in the workplace is a two-way street, employers do need to spend some time monitoring the atmosphere in the workplace, gauging employees for signs of stress. If you notice that employees are rushing through tasks, struggle to work amicably with each other, or are making numerous unnecessary errors in the work that is completed, then stress may be impacting your productivity and efficiency. Ask the right questions – ask your employees what they would change in the business. Let them be a part of the company. If they do not feel that they are a part of your success they feel separated and will move on
