What do you do if your team is experiencing high levels of workplace stress?

I strongly advocate for the alignment of expectations as a fundamental practice. My preferred method involves focusing on roles instead of job descriptions. This is because roles are defined by their functions within the organization, whereas job descriptions are tailored to individuals. By distinguishing the specific roles associated with stress, we can more efficiently identify and address the underlying issues. This approach facilitates targeted solutions and support

Identify root stressors - drivers (workload, tensions) Prioritize the "vital few versus the worthwhile many" - Focus on high-impact activities Focus - On outcomes versus process (if possible) Reasonable expectations - Model sustainable practices The team - Collaborate on identifying stressors/solutions Delegate and support - Distribute workload, provide resources Encourage self-care - Breaks, exercise, nutrition, relaxation Support - Counseling, coaching, stress management Improve - Workflows, increase efficiency Foster open communication - Discuss challenges/concerns Build resilience - Positive mindsets, coping strategies, stress relief Addressing causes and fostering well-being reduce team stress.

Begin by tracking asking questions or using a questionnaire to pinpoint stress triggers. Is it certain tasks, meetings, or interactions with specific people? Often, stress comes from tight deadlines, a piled-up workload, or unclear job expectations. Have people to take notice how their body and mood respond—headaches, irritability, or just feeling wiped out? Also, take a look at the environment. How's your desk space? Too noisy? What's the team atmosphere like? A chat with coworkers could highlight common stressors. Have employees write down stressful moments throughout their day as it can reveal patterns. Figuring out what bothers them is a crucial step towards reducing stress and creating a more positive workplace vibe!

Cuando mi equipo enfrenta altos niveles de estrés, lo primero que hago es identificar de dónde viene. Hablo con cada miembro para entender qué los está afectando. Esta información nos ayuda a diferenciar entre las causas comunes y las particulares del estrés, lo que nos permite encontrar soluciones adaptadas. Al reconocer el estrés como un problema complejo, trabajamos juntos para mejorar el bienestar y la productividad de todos.

Often, people don't remember what leaders told them. They remember how leaders make them feel. While trying to discover surface-level problems, what might be most helpful in providing support and resources to your team members, is to be proactive in creating time to listen to individual or small group members. One of the 7 habits of highly effective people, is to seek first to understand and then to be understood. I would argue further. Additionally, seek first to listen and then speak to share your opinions. Remember to make your team members feel cared for. This is most important.

When an employee expressed concern over a task she feared might lead to inevitable failure, I sought to address her anxiety constructively. I reassured her by suggesting, 'Begin the work, and should you find yourself unable to complete it by Thursday, I’ll take over and ensure it’s finished.' This strategy effectively alleviated her stress, instilling confidence and motivation. Consequently, she successfully completed the task on time.

I see myself as a Servant Leader and I have felt that it is my responsibility to provide my teams with the tools meet the challenges of stressful workplace situations - workload or people. As a Resilience Coach, I tend to use a coaching approach to encourage resilience skills such as mindfulness, journaling and reflection. I have also provided other resources such as books or videos/podcasts and even music to tailor my message to the situation.

Be human and work together for sustainable solutions that are based in reality. Allow the opportunity for people to share and express emotions.

Cuando el equipo enfrenta estrés, la prioridad debe brindarles apoyo y recursos. Estar disponible para escuchar sus necesidades y proporcionar herramientas adicionales, como capacitación o asistencia externa, para ayudar a manejar la carga de trabajo y reducir el estrés. Al demostrar el compromiso del líder con su bienestar y desarrollo, se fortalece la capacidad del equipo para superar desafíos juntos.

While setting clear goals is crucial for project success, it's equally important to address the recurring aspects of work. For these tasks, I recommend defining roles with explicit purposes and accountabilities. This ensures that even outside the scope of individual projects, there's a structured approach to who does what and why, fostering efficiency and clarity in everyday operations.

If my team is experiencing high levels of workplace stress, I know the issue is with the system. When I supervised a fast-paced government agency with unexpected daily client crises, I had to manage the system to reduce the stress upon my team. This looked like (1) not assigning tasks to my employees because that is what the system says to do. The 'system' wants the work done, and just because it says every employee needs to do 5 different jobs, I focused more on how it got done rather than who completed it, and (2) I didn't send unnecessary emails. I would add it to the agenda if it could wait until our scheduled staff meeting. If it had the potential to change their mood, I would send information to be discussed later at the meeting.

A healthy habit you can consider adopting in your team, is to co-create short periodes of co-created silence in your meetings. If you make this a team-ritual in all your meetings, you will experience the benifits of “accumulated silence”. This will help recharge the brain during the whole day. The alternative is a calender of constant assignements and meetings with constant talking which will often result in a stressfull information overload.

Managing stress effectively is key to well-being. Incorporate exercise to release endorphins, practice mindfulness or meditation (which includes deep breathing) to calm the mind, and eat a balanced diet. Adequate sleep is crucial; lack of it can worsen stress. Connect with friends and family for support, and manage your time effectively to avoid burnout. Engage in hobbies you enjoy for relaxation. Getting focused on a hobby or some other activity that you enjoy doing helps to redirect away from stressors. For me, it's hiking, doing Parkour, or playing my harmonica. If stress becomes overwhelming, seek professional help. Remember, small, consistent changes can significantly impact your stress levels and overall health.