Stress Management
Introduction
For a long period of time, stress and work have been common in the working environment. Projects and presentations affect the office culture and act as a basis for all forms of stress. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, about 40 percent of employees in companies have jobs that are highly stressful. The report goes on to state that 27 percent of these employees experience burn out or greatly stressed from their work while 30 percent are to a small or great extent stressed (Colquitt, Lepine, and Wesson, 2012). This statistics only comprise the most stressed employees in the working environment.
There are several ways that the levels of stress can be reduced in the work set up and create a comfortable working environment. These involves being well organized, having extended sleeps and being positive. This would be more effective if the managers play a role. If the employees suffer from burn out or stress, the company or business ends up suffering. Additionally, a stressed setting is not good for working.
There are various ways for employees to manage stress for employees and make them be motivated and involved in the business operations.
Encourage Breaks
Being in front of the computer for long periods of time is not healthy for any person. The employees should be allowed to take breaks when they feel the urge. This would of benefit to both the company and employees as it would keep them fresh and re-energized. Taking breaks helps to clear one’s head and this could be done by taking walks or relaxing.
Studies show that the breaks help to diffuse stress that grows as one is busy attending to work. At the same time, employers are of the thought that it gives them the ability to produce good results hence allow naps while working.
Smile
Employers who are more involved with their employees gives them the courage to and ease to work. Handling them with smiles offers the staff with the relaxation necessary to be comfortable in the environment and can be easily approached (Colquitt, Lepine, and Wesson, 2012). Smiling is a popular way to ease stress as opposed to the strict way office managers are known to appear in the work setting. Additionally, smiling can affect those around, research shows that when one is interacting with those smiling, he or she tends to copy the smile. This method is two-fold: one can smile to make the staff be at ease through showing one is in a good mood while on the other hand make them be away from stress issues.
Office environment sense and staff
It is important for one to be a flexible office manager. He or she has to be aware of the unavoidable social and political aspects prevalent in the office and those that play varied roles to make the office operate. The manager has to make time to be involved with their staff and this means going through their work places regularly or letting the office door be open to all. Consideration should be given to personalities as toxic people pull other down with them.
For instance, Dorter says that stress in the work place is placed on the work they do while in reality it is the people that they work with. One has to be conscious of the people that they work with and control the influence they have on them through useful relations and handling matters with them as required.
Listen and meaningful involvement
Stress management theories state that when one meets face-to-face it passes the meaning they care of what is going to be passed to them (Colquitt, Lepine, and Wesson, 2012). Additionally, reflecting on what has been talked about shows that one was keen and listening to what was being said and understood. Even though there may lack a quick solution, making oneself available for others as a listening ear or handling their issues is useful. It is useful that the employees be aware that their manager can be approached when they are faced with issues. When they experience pressure and are stressed out, they know whom to turn to. This helps to give them a sense of belonging and are more relaxed as they carry out their respective duties. This as a result helps to bolster their effectiveness and acquire job satisfaction.
Beautify your office
Heaps of boxes, little operating space, papers, oppressive lights, stuffy air and past facilities are all remedies for stress. The office needs to pay more attention to the providing a comfortable office space and place plants that would neaten up the workplace; it helps to purify the air we breathe and gives the office a feeling like home. Studies suggest that this automatically relives one of pressure that comes with a lot of work. Clutter should be reduced and noise kept to a minimum, this is since loud noises can greatly affect the level of stress in employees. Additionally, the office should be well organized and the wash rooms should always be presentable (Colquitt, Lepine, and Wesson, 2012). This would automatically lead to poor performance at work.
Conclusion
Stress Management at the workplace works hand in hand with productivity. Employees who are exposed to aspects of stress have been known to be ineffective at the workplace. It is hence necessary that stress and the aspects that lead to it be brought to a great minimum. The paper has been able to focus on varied ways that stress can be controlled. Stress management ways like taking breaks eases pressure on the brain and smiling with the staff issues a feeling of relaxation. Additionally, being aware of the social and political set up in the work place offers one with effective ways of handling the employees in a better way while listening to them offers them with a reassurance as well as creating a good operating environment propels relaxation. All of these methods are just but some of the ways that stress can be managed for employees.
Recommendation
It is necessary that the manner employees and the issues that they bring are well handled. This accords them with the vital reassurance of working effectively. Employees work comfortably knowing that their issues will be well handled. The manager should offer that and this could be made possible by engaging with their employees in varied ways like assessing their work and reassuring them of support. This relives stress and is reflected on the work.
Stress management is effective with a good connection and understanding between the top leadership and employees. Any close up restricts the other one from knowing what is going on and is reflected in performance. The future of the company is hence based on the relation that exists between the top leadership and the employees.
Reference
Colquitt, J., Lepine, J. and Wesson, M. (2012). Organizational Behavior: Improving Performance and Commitment in the Workplace. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
