How can career management tools help you manage stress at work?

A big part of the stress comes from trying to keep too many things in our heads, and worrying about it. With so many competing priorities and distractions, our minds need a way to make a connection and then unload in some organized way so we can focus on what’s in front of us. These career management “tools” are helpful as long as the help reflect and reframe without adding to the flood of distraction. The trick is to be intentional about using them along the way instead of waiting until a career change happens to you. I’ve had to relearn that lesson ;-)

The things that have helped me the most so far, beyond the awareness of my values/priorities and skills, have been the exchange of experiences among peers (people I value and have done well in their careers) outside my institution and the discussion with a professional counselor at times of job position change.

Using so simple tools like excel sheet for task tracking, simple onenote for list organization, you can do great and overcome stress. Basically you simply need to arrange your work based in priority. And estimate how much time is needed for those items. And set same expectations to others. Being practical is very essential for managing your stress. Wish you very well

Career Management tools, can also help to provide clarity in one's career and career journey. When one is not sure about a decision to make or a career direction, using career trajectory tools and also skills set will provide a good understanding and clarity to make informed decision that are backed with our commitment.

In my experience, knowing yourself and your ultimate and short-term career goals will bring peace of mind when it comes to owning your career and increasing your chances of success (wherever success means to you!). Clarity of what's possible inside an organization and what steps you need to follow to accomplish those and continue to advance will become essential in pursuing those ultimate goals. Self-knowledge is hard work and I've started that journey years ago, some tools that helped me were behavioral-based assessments like DISC, MBTI, Insights, etc., but, holding conversations with mentors and friends at work made all the difference when finding my way and determining what success looked like to me.

Knowing that career management tools are available can help ease the stress of being in a role that might not be a good fit. Leveraging the tools to identify your strengths, set goals and to create a plan to grow can help you see a path forward. Our careers are about choices and using these tools helps you make the best choice for you.

What I have found helpful is when one can use the tools to determine the cause of the stress, the scope of what is within the reach and what is out of control. This helps to determine the triggers, causes and determine an accountability pattern. Without being vindictive and laying blame, the tools are solution focused with an action plan to help in achieving any goals set.

Having in mind, at least mentally, your circles of control/influence in the current career situation or a prospect. Trying to be mindful about aspects of the situation you have complete control over, the ones you have certain influence in (not total control). Third circle extends on elements of the situation you have no control over. Being mindful around these aspects and strategically planning your steps to reflect them is a great way to reduce stress at work.

One thing that helped me was understanding that my career was mine, that I needed to be proactive, understand what I bring to the table and what my competitive advantage is (diverse female candidate, multi-lingual, etc.), and not let anyone speak on my behalf...to build and maintain credibility and a personal brand is up to each of us.

Before I turn to career management tools, I would first want to understand, diagnose and treat the cause of workplace stress. Only then, can one utilise career management tools effectively. You cannot make a clear and informed career choice, while your brain (and body) is consumed with stress. The frame of reference by which you make any career-based choices will be tainted and ill-informed. Using career management tools to manage workplace stress, is to manage the symptom. Deal and remove the problem, and THEN use career management tools to achieve a successful outcome and career transformation.