5 Top Tips for Reducing Stress in Your Workplace
- Leading by example
One of the leading causes of stress in the workplace is the impact of managers and their skills of managing staff and stress. When you are the leader, it is key to keep a lid on your emotions – don’t let stress, negativity, or anger rub off on your employees. Make sure you do what you preach and make sure you have enough time to relax and de-stress at the end of the day – enjoy quality time with your family, go for a run, or arrange to socialize with friends. You can organize walking meetings instead of doing it in the boardrooms. When you take breaks from time to time and book holidays, it is going to put you in a good frame of mind, and the employees are going to see that it is okay to take some time out.
- Introducing workplace wellness schemes
Exercise and a healthy lifestyle have been shown to be effective in fighting workplace-related stress. Having employee wellness schemes like organizing a lunchtime running club or discount at the local gyms is a good way of encouraging your employees to feel better about themselves and unwind.
- Communicating with your employees
Open communication is an important aspect of leadership – keep them up to date with changes, expectations, and their performance. Using a work time tracker will make keeping them up to date easy.. This is going to keep them on track and will reduce anxiety and stress. People hate it when they are kept in the dark. When you are the manager, it is your job to ensure that your team knows the latest developments and changes. Open communication is good because it is a two-way street, and when you communicate with them, they are more likely to do the same and share with you ideas, concerns, and thoughts which are going to strengthen the working relationships. This is going to result in healthier overall company culture.
- Providing a ‘chill out’ space in the office
There are times when employees need a couple of minutes to relax, disengage from technology and work, and re-group. Provide your employees with a quiet room where they can chill and spend 15 minutes with their thoughts. This is going to reduce stress and burnout in the workplace. This is something that most employers forget to factor in when designing the workplace. When employees take a short break from work, they come back feeling re-energized and refreshed ready to tackle tasks for the rest of the day. Provide them with a comfortable seating area and paint the walls with a neutral color – a pleasant environment will boost happiness.
- Creating social activity
Employees usually spend a lot of time with their colleagues, and it is important for them to get along. When employees enjoy their time at work, the atmosphere at the workplace is going to be great. This is going to lead to better productivity, more collaboration, and creativity. Organize nights out, team lunches, team away days, social events, or arrange for a speaker to come there and deal with a subject that interests your employees. Try making it fun. Social activity is good because it boosts morale, reduces stress, and team building.
