Why is it worth managing stress in an organisation?

Stress that is swept under the carpet does not disappear, but only grows stronger. Therefore, as a manager, pay attention to it and introduce solutions that will support employees in their daily work. This way, you will achieve more.

Why is stress management important in an organisation?

Stress is an integral part of life. It arises when the difference between our capabilities and the situation at hand overwhelms us. We feel that we cannot cope. It is all too much.

At these moments, the body takes action to restore our balance. There are several strategies, from attack to escape. However, there is one tactic that is very popular in organisations – stress suppression. Managers push the signs of stress into the background, unconsciously inspiring their team to do the same. Employees come to work pretending they are not stressed. However, the effect is the opposite of what was intended. Stress does not disappear, but rather increases, blocking the company’s development. What needs to be done is simply to notice it.

Once we notice it, we can accept its existence and take specific action. It is important to remember that stress has its dark side, but also its bright side.

Skillful stress management at work allows the team to achieve more.

Introducing calming exercises, regular conversations, and ensuring good communication gives employees a sense of security and increases their motivation. When we enter the office, we see people who want to work. Commitment to daily work leads to increased productivity. When a team derives satisfaction from what it does, it is more focused on the tasks at hand.

What happens if we sweep stress under the carpet? The company will pay a high price for it, and employees will start to struggle with health problems. It can be said that if left unattended, it will eat away at the organisation from the inside, slowly consuming its budget and spoiling the atmosphere within it.

The effects of stress at work

We are not adapted to functioning under prolonged tension. Permanent stress goes hand in hand with, among other things, reduced immunity, heart disease, depression, and irritability. What are the main negative effects of stress among employees on the functioning of an organisation?

Farewell to employee motivation

The desire to work is the main driving force behind employees. It is thanks to this that a team can be truly effective. However, if stress becomes a permanent fixture in the company, motivation will begin to fade. The sparkle in the eyes at the thought of a new project will disappear, and opening your laptop in the morning will become a struggle. Constant tension can take away the joy of performing favourite tasks. As a result, commitment decreases and the risk of conflict increases.

However, there is a glimmer of hope. If we start managing stress in the company, smiles will reappear on the faces of employees. 

Burnout

Stress is one of the main sources of demotivation. When we are under stress, we feel exhausted and completely drained of energy. The very thought of opening our laptop makes us feel reluctant, and work, which used to be a satisfying activity, becomes a burden. Burnout is also a trap. Exhausted, we need rest, but when we manage to arrange a break, it turns out that we have no idea how to regenerate.

Burnout also affects third parties. We become cynical in our interactions with clients or colleagues, we do not believe in our own competence, we have low self-esteem, and we have problems with concentration. This manifests itself, for example, in the fact that we perceive constructive criticism of our work as a personal attack and react with irritation.

Increased costs for the company

Failure to manage stress in the workplace comes at a high price. The effects mentioned above lead to long-term redundancies, decreased productivity, and deteriorating customer relations. This is compounded by high staff turnover. Team members are constantly changing, which leads to a direct increase in costs related to recruitment and onboarding new employees. The main problem, however, is that it is difficult to build a real team based on chaos. The company remains in a state of flux, unable to develop further.

What are the most common symptoms of stress in the workplace?

We intuitively know what stress is and when it affects us. The challenge is to consciously observe its symptoms. It is therefore crucial to realise how long-term tension affects the entire body. Your task as a manager is also to carefully observe your employees in order to detect any worrying behaviour.

Excessive stress in the workplace manifests itself in:

• problems with concentration and rest,
• difficulties in making decisions,
• problems with logical thinking,
• less commitment to work,
• irritability, fatigue,
• depression,
• fatigue resulting from sleep problems,
• health problems, such as increased blood pressure and headaches.

As a manager, how can you manage stress in your organisation?

The first step is to identify the type of tension that exists in the company. Does it benefit employees by motivating them to act, or does it drag them down due to its excessive intensity?

Then it’s time for step two, which is to implement solutions that will keep the tension at a safe level. Below are some examples of methods that will help you control and manage stress at work. The intention behind introducing these solutions is to create an atmosphere in which employees feel able to admit that they are struggling with their tasks and need help. For this to happen, they need to feel that you are someone who will listen to them with complete attention, acceptance, and understanding.

As a manager:

1. Take care of your company’s resources through prevention

Stress is most often caused by employee workload. Therefore, pay attention to workloads, skill gaps, and the overall condition of the team. This is especially important when you have a large project ahead of you. Make sure you have enough people in good mental health to carry it out.

2. Communicate consciously

Clear communication improves work. Chaotic communication leads to conflict. Focus on simple, honest conversation and remember that a good leader not only speaks, but also listens attentively.

3. Remember the needs of your employees

Accept feedback from your team, draw conclusions, and make the necessary changes. This will make your employees feel that they are important and have an impact on the functioning of the company.

4. Organise soft skills training

When planning workshops, companies tend to focus solely on professional skills. If you want to create a healthy work environment, include emotional management training in your budget.

5. Conduct regular surveys to assess stress levels

This will enable you to prevent problems rather than just putting them out. In your surveys, ask about workload, pace of work, and the nature of tasks.

Do you manage a team? Take care of yourself, too. What can you do to manage stress?

If you are a manager, supporting others is your main role. However, remember that you are part of the team yourself. Before you reach out to someone else, take care of yourself. Only then, without putting yourself at risk, will you be able to fully share your skills.

How can you do this? As mentioned above, to manage stress, you must first recognise, accept, and understand it. Only then can you implement the solutions that are right for you. This is where the EmotionAid method developed by the International Trauma-Healing Institute comes in handy. We present it to you below.

First, rate the level of stress you are experiencing on a scale of 0 to 10. Is it greater than 6? Go through all the steps. If it is less than 6, go straight to step 4.

Level 10-9 Step 1

Butterfly hug: Cross your arms and place your hands on your shoulders. Pat your shoulders 25 times alternately with your open palms to feel calm. Then take a break, take a few breaths, and repeat the exercise.

Level 8-7 Step 2

Basic grounding: Stand firmly on the ground and feel grounded. Look around and count 10 different objects of the same colour, then 10 objects of different textures or shapes. This exercise will help you restore your orientation and cognitive functions of the cerebral cortex.

Level 6-5 Step 3

Calming and regulation: Place one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach. Without judging, begin to observe your breathing. After a while, it should stabilize, and you will feel comfortable.

Level 4-3 Step 4

Release: Notice the sensations coming from your body, then focus on one of them. Without rushing or judging, observe what you are feeling right now. Relief will come spontaneously as a deep breath, yawn, tingling, warmth, sweat, goose bumps, laughter, or crying.

Level 2-1 Step 5

Resources: To enhance your sense of calm, think of something that empowers or calms you. It could be a friend, something you love, a place, an image, or a spiritual being. Notice the relaxing effect of this resource.

A few words about emotional intelligence

Can you follow your heart and your mind at the same time? Are you aware of your own emotions? Are you not afraid of change and able to resolve conflicts?

A person with developed emotional intelligence can recognise their own feelings and read the emotions of others. Thanks to this, they live in harmony with themselves and maintain healthy, beneficial relationships. What does this skill offer in the case of stress? First of all, it reduces the risk of it occurring. However, if tension has already built up, an emotionally mature person is able to take care of themselves in order to regain their balance. The key here is to have an internal compass that leads to peace of mind.

How can you develop emotional intelligence?

• Allow yourself to experience emotions. Do not run away from them!
• Analyse what is inside you. Regularly ask yourself: What am I feeling right now?
• Observe your body and see how it behaves when you experience different emotions.
• Tell others what you are feeling. Do it thoughtfully.
• Try to read the body language of your friends, colleagues, and family.
• Talk to your friends about their emotions and try to empathise with their situation.
• Practise assertiveness by telling others when they cross your boundaries.
• Listen attentively to other people.
• Remember that constructive criticism is for you, not against you.
• We also recommend exploring knowledge about emotions, including Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence.

We wish you the best of luck in managing your stress!