Your colleague is drowning in work stress. How can you help them stay afloat?

Recognizing signs of work stress, such as fatigue, irritability, or declining performance, allows you to step in and help a colleague. Offer a listening ear and acknowledge their feelings without judgment. Suggest prioritizing tasks and delegating when possible, and provide practical support like sharing responsibilities or assisting with deadlines. Encourage breaks, self-care, and open communication with management. Your empathy and proactive approach can help them regain balance, feel supported, and manage their workload more effectively.

Identificar sinais de estresse em colegas é o primeiro passo para ajudar. Isso pode incluir irritabilidade, isolamento ou falta de motiva??o. Como PM, devemos monitorar n?o só o desempenho, mas também a saúde emocional da equipe. Reconhecer esses sinais precocemente pode prevenir o esgotamento. [EN] The first step in helping a colleague is identifying signs of stress. This can include behaviors like irritability, isolation, frequent mistakes, or lack of motivation. As PMs, we are used to monitoring performance and success signals in products; the same attention to detail should be applied to our coworkers’ emotional well-being. Recognizing these signs early can make a difference between preventing burnout and addressing it later.

Offering support to a stressed colleague involves actively listening to their concerns and showing empathy. Encourage them to prioritize tasks, delegate when possible, and take breaks to recharge. Offer practical help, like assisting with workload or brainstorming solutions. Sometimes, simply being there for emotional support or offering words of encouragement can make a difference. Remind them to reach out for additional resources if needed, like HR or wellness programs, and check in regularly to show continued care and support.

Oferecer suporte vai além de perguntar “como você está?”. é criar um espa?o seguro para que o colega compartilhe suas preocupa??es. Como PMs, podemos facilitar, removendo barreiras e encontrando solu??es, demostrando empatia e ouvindo ativamente, aliviando assim parte de seu fardo. [EN] Offering support goes beyond just asking, “how are you?” It’s about creating a safe space where the colleague feels comfortable sharing their concerns. As PMs, we can act as facilitators, helping remove barriers and finding solutions. Showing empathy and actively listening can ease some of the burdens they’re carrying, letting them know they are not alone on this journey.

Sharing strategies to help a stressed colleague involves offering practical tips to manage their workload and reduce stress. Encourage them to: 1. **Prioritize tasks**: Focus on high-impact tasks first. 2. **Break tasks into smaller steps**: This makes overwhelming projects more manageable. 3. **Delegate**: Share responsibilities when possible. 4. **Set boundaries**: Avoid overcommitting and protect personal time. 5. **Practice mindfulness**: Engage in breathing exercises or short meditation breaks. 6. **Seek support**: Encourage open communication with the team or manager for additional resources. Regularly check in to support their progress.

Dividir a carga de trabalho é uma forma eficaz de reduzir o estresse. Delegar tarefas entre a equipe alivia a press?o. Como PM, devemos garantir clareza nas prioridades e distribui??o equilibrada do trabalho. A colabora??o ajuda a manter a produtividade sem sobrecarga. [EN] Sharing the workload is one of the most effective ways to relieve a colleague’s stress. Identifying tasks that can be delegated or redistributed across the team can reduce pressure on one person. As PMs, it’s our responsibility to ensure priorities are clear and the work is distributed evenly. Collaboration and the division of responsibilities help everyone stay productive without feeling overwhelmed.

O estresse frequentemente vem da dificuldade em separar trabalho e vida pessoal. Incentivar limites saudáveis pode ajudar a evitar o esgotamento. Como PMs, devemos respeitar esses limites e equilibrar expectativas, criando um ambiente mais sustentável. [EN] Often, stress is related to the inability to set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Encouraging the colleague to establish healthy boundaries can be a powerful way to help them avoid burnout. As PMs, we must respect these boundaries, ensuring that project demands don’t overwhelm individual capacities. When we help balance expectations, we create a more sustainable environment for everyone.

Encourage a culture of collaboration within the team. Suggest that team members help each other out when workloads become overwhelming, emphasizing that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Make it clear that you’re there to support them. Be the first to offer help and support. Model the behavior that you want people to embrace. If there's a culture of helping one another, people can take comfort in knowing they have someone to lean on. You can also encourage them to speak with their manager about their workload. Offer to help them prepare for the conversation by identifying specific issues and possible solutions.

às vezes, ajudar um colega estressado envolve trazer outras pessoas para a conversa, como líderes ou profissionais de apoio. Podemos sugerir dinamicas de suporte mútuo para o time. Como PM, nossa vis?o do projeto pode ajudar a identificar recursos que aliviem a carga de um membro. [EN] Sometimes, the best way to help a stressed colleague is to bring others into the conversation. This might involve engaging leadership or even suggesting professional support, such as a coach or therapist. We can also encourage the team to participate in mutual support dynamics. As PMs, we have a broad view of the project and the team, and this perspective can help identify additional resources to ease a team member’s burden.

Quando um colega está sobrecarregado de estresse, a melhor maneira de ajudar é oferecer suporte prático e emocional. Comece incentivando uma pausa para que ele possa respirar e reorganizar as ideias. Ajude a priorizar tarefas, identificando o que é urgente e o que pode ser delegado ou adiado. Compartilhar técnicas de gerenciamento de tempo e práticas de autocuidado também pode fazer uma grande diferen?a. Mostrar que ele n?o está sozinho e que a produtividade pode ser mantida sem sacrificar o bem-estar é fundamental para ajudá-lo a se manter à tona.

No estresse, gestos de positividade fazem diferen?a. Celebrar vitórias, reconhecer esfor?os e promover momentos de descontra??o ajudam a aliviar a tens?o. Como PM, cultivar a gratid?o no time transforma o ambiente, tornando-o mais resiliente e motivador. [EN] In times of stress, small gestures of positivity can have a big impact. Celebrating small wins, acknowledging a colleague’s effort, and creating moments of relaxation within the team can help lift the heavy atmosphere. As PMs, fostering a culture of recognition and gratitude within the team can transform the work environment, making it more resilient and motivating for everyone.