Every manager worth their salt knows how important it is to manage yours and your employee’s stress at the workplace. Read on for tips to get control of stressful times.
More and more people are following the catch cry of work/life balance, so much so that this is what jobseekers look for in new workplaces. Some 46 percent of jobseekers in fact look for work/life balance in a new place of employment according to the Leadership, Employment And Direction (L.E.A.D) survey conducted by Leadership Management Australiasia.
Despite jobseekers looking for a more balanced work life, according to the survey, 70 percent of managers and 63 percent of employees believe they are under more pressure than 3 years ago. Their leaders however seem to be out of touch, with only 49 percent of them agreeing this is the case.
LMA CEO Andrew Henderson said that managing work life balance is one of the most important issues for managers to deal with in the post GFC economy. “Managing employee expectations on work/life balance in association with personal needs is fast becoming the workplace challenge of the new millennium,” Henderson said.
In order to help employees deal with stress and maintaining a healthy balance, the LMA devised the following tips:
- Establish a lifeline. Everyone needs a trustworthy person to talk to, preferably before reaching boiling point. Talking to others helps you realise you aren’t alone – if something is affecting you, others may be experiencing something similar.
- Prioritise.When tasks threaten to swamp you, step back. Decide what is imperative and what is important. This will also help you decide what can wait. Learn to say no. Although you can’t usually reject a manager’s assignment, you can let them know what else you’re working on. If your workload has increased and you need help, say so, as managers cannot read minds.
- Leave work on time. It’s normal to work past quitting time to finish a project, but doing so on a regular basis creates problems at work and home. Set an example by applying yourself fully when you’re at work then leave on time.
- Exercise. People who exercise say it gives them more energy and focus, so start with 2 or 3 days a week, working up to daily if possible. Try anything that you enjoy, raise your heart rate and clear your mind.
- Think practically. Change is inevitable, even in slower moving organisations. Acknowledge that nothing stays the same, and then deal with changes as they arise. Remember, some changes can be beneficial.
