In a hectic business environment, stress is sometimes inevitable. However, unaddressed stress hurts employee performance and the overall success of a company. Management plays a critical role in reducing workplace stress and improving productivity. Discover how to help your team minimize stress and maximize their potential.
Just Breathe
Employees often spend much of the day rushing to meet deadlines and milestones. Taking a few minutes to stretch and breathe throughout the day provides essential oxygen to the body and brain, helping everyone to think more clearly. Schedule opportunities for meditation and yoga at work to help reduce stress and give your team essential tools to unwind throughout the day.
Evaluate Workloads
Many employees feel overwhelmed throughout the day and exhausted by the end of it. As a result, they are tired and unable to focus throughout the workday. Management should evaluate current workflows and eliminate low-impact tasks that add to employee fatigue. Quality work is exhilarating and gives your team a feeling of accomplishment rather than exhaustion.
Long Hours
Another factor in reviewing is the number of hours each employee typically works. While overtime is inevitable during busy times, it should not happen regularly. Employees need time to themselves to rest and recuperate for optimum job performance. Make sure everyone gets time off, breaks, and an opportunity to relax so they are fueled to tackle their workplace responsibilities.
Lack of Opportunity
Many employees feel like they are working to stay in the same place, with little room for advancement or personal growth. Management should offer learning, development, and advancement opportunities within each department to keep the team motivated. From learning seminars to bonuses for superior performance, opportunities empower and encourage team members to do their best.
Financial Well-Being
Often, employees are concerned about their financial future, especially in low-paying careers. Management can relieve these concerns with retirement plans and medical benefits that help workers feel financially secure. Also, these added benefits build loyalty and help management retain loyal team members.
Focus on Workplace Relationships
People spend many hours at work and want to get along with management and co-workers. So, establish initiatives to encourage meaningful collaboration and exchanging ideas. As a result, people who have value and a voice are happier at work and home.
Define Responsibilities
When workers don’t know their responsibilities, it creates confusion and room for error. Management can reduce mistakes and stress by clearly defining job responsibilities and tasks for each employee. In reviewing job descriptions, eliminate as many low-impact tasks as possible to give each worker a sense of value and accomplishment for what they do.
Flexibility Matters
Finally, flexibility is crucial to maintaining a happy staff in a workplace fueled by remote and contract workers. Providing opportunities to switch hours or work remotely helps your team maintain a better work-life balance. Plus, many of the most talented team members expect flexibility as part of their benefits package with a potential employer. Failing to offer flexibility can mean sacrificing top talent to competitors.
With all the details management must consider, one of the most important is reducing stress in the workplace. Stress causes health issues and distracts employees’ from their purpose at work. By offering opportunities to reduce stress and improve working conditions, your team feels empowered to do their best work all the time.
