STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING STRESS IN YOUR EMPLOYEES

As a manager, your plate is always full. 

You have endless meetings, deadlines, and reports. But what about your employees? Are they also feeling a similar level of stress? 

Studies show that stress at work is a significant issue that impacts productivity, engagement, and overall well-being. This means it's crucial for a manager to:

• Support employees

• Reduce workplace stress

• Create a work environment that fosters positivity, productivity, and growth

Stress is inevitable of course, and you won't ever be able to eliminate it - in yourself or your employees. But what you can do is be a friendly face, encourage them to approach work in a healthy way, and be aware of their workload.

Here are 5 strategies that can help you as a manager reduce workplace for your team:

Improve THE company culture

An engaging company culture is the foundation of success.

It's all about the day-to-day life of the workplace and the amalgamation of:

• The environment

• The people

• The conversations

• The expectations

• The support

And much more.

As a manager, you can lead by example and create a culture of trust, transparency, and open communication.

Because without it, it'll begin to trickle down into how your employees treat one another and infect the entire culture.

According to CNCB, the number one reason for resigning is “toxic company culture”. 

And let's face it - who wants to go into an office every day and face rude, unsupportive, and dreary colleagues? Without even having any stress from workload or deadlines, conflict and poor working relationships, employees can become incredibly overwhelmed.

So taking the time to evaluate the overall culture can help employees feel less stressed and more excited to come to work.

Have regular 1-1 catchups

Although 1-1's are good to talk about progress, they're also there to speak about how employees are finding work generally.

• Are they happy?

• How is their workload?

• Is there anything that's worrying them?

• Do they need any support?

As a manager, it's your job to find the answers and provide a solution.

And sometimes, that solution won't be easy to pinpoint, or it might not be 100% solvable, but what your employees always need is support. Regular catchups help you to be proactive in addressing issues before they become bigger problems.

These catchups will help you and your employee come up with ways to manage workload. Whether it's helping them to prioritise projects or speak further about their time-management, these catchups are invaluable for building trust whilst reminding your employees that you have their back.

Avoid micromanagING EMPLOYEES

As a manager, micromanaging can seem like a good way to manage your own stress because you can constantly be in the know about what each employee is doing and their progress, but micromanagement can be a major source of stress for them. 

Putting it bluntly, it can lead to a lack of trust, autonomy, and creativity. 

Aside from the fact that no one wants anyone constantly breathing down their neck, micromanagement can cause far deeper issues in any professional's development. It can cause deep insecurities that make employees feel like they're incapable of succeeding in their role.

And insecurities cause stress which leads to unproductivity, low morale, and eventually a resignation letter.

But of course, you still need to manage. But how?

Instead of trying to control the situation too much, provide clear expectations and guidelines, but allow them to find their own solutions. This will not only reduce their stress but also foster pride and accomplishment.

Encourage EMPLOYEES TO TAKE breaks and HAVE downtime

It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work and forget to take breaks.

However, breaks are essential for reducing stress and increasing productivity. Encourage your employees to take regular breaks throughout the day. This could mean going for a walk, having a coffee break, or simply stepping away from their desk for a few minutes. 

Also, encourage them to disconnect after work hours, at weekends, and when they take annual leave. Respect their work-life balance and avoid sending work-related emails or messages outside of business hours.

Foster aN ENVIRONEMENT of learning and growth

Finally, foster a environment of learning and growth. 

Encourage your employees to develop their skills, knowledge, and expertise. Provide opportunities for training, mentoring, and career development. This will not only reduce stress but also increase engagement, motivation, and retention. 

If employees feel like they don't have the resources and the training, they'll constantly feel out of depth.

A growth mindset is essential for building a resilient, adaptable, and innovative team.

- Written by Oliver Howson

NEED SOME FRIENDLY ADVICE OR MORE TIPS?

If you are looking for more advice or help finding your next job, we can help, please give us a call on: 0117 301 8495 or take a look at our jobs page. Alternatively, if you’re an employer in the South West and South Wales looking to recruit and need someone with real recruiting expertise then we can help – let’s chat.