Stress-a six-letter word with a four-letter word attitude-is not new to the workplace or to the homeplace for that matter. It's jua much greater threat to employee and company well-being than ever before.
Increased technological demands, combined with the volatile and unpredictable economy and the modern atmosphere of continuous upheaval and rapid change, have placed pressures on workers and businesses that are unparalleled in history. Over ten years ago, the World Health Organization labeled stress as a "worldwide epidemic." Today, the cost of stress to U.S. companies is estimated to exceed $300 billion a year.
So what is stress and what can you do to de-stress your workplace? The first part of that question is easy to answer. Stress is simply defined as the body's overall response to any demand placed upon it. When a demand arises, our bodies respond by releasing chemical messengers (stress hormones) into our blood stream which trigger physical and emotional changes and mobilize us to deal with that demand. Unfortunately, the answer to the second half of the question is a bit harder to pin down.
Stress is an essential part of our lives. It's what gives us a reason to get out of bed in the morning, keeps us moving toward a goal, and encourages us to rise to meet challenges. Without stress, life would be boring and we'd accomplish very little. When we react to stressful situations in a normal fashion, with increased tension and a moderate anxiety level, we're pushed to take action to resolve the situation facing us at the moment. Then, once the resolution is reached, our bodies return to a relaxed state of balance or equilibrium.
The real problems come in when stressors never abate, and we never get to relax and catch our breath or reclaim our equilibrium. When this happens, the out-of-balance flood of stress chemicals flowing through our bodies may bring on more harmful physical and emotional responses. Symptoms of an unbalanced stress response can range from elevated blood pressure, headache, and upset stomach, to irritability, difficulty concentrating and deterioration of interpersonal relationships. High levels of job stress also put workers at a much higher risk for on-the-job accidents and make them prone to on-going absenteeism for minor stress-induced complaints.
When day-to-day job duties, over which employees have little or no control, are excessive or overly challenging, the job they're required to do is potentially dangerous or psychologically demanding, or their work environment is fraught with problems such as poor communication, disorganization, lack of support, or even uncertainty and fear, then your company and your employees are at risk for stress-related illness or injury. At the very least, you could be looking at decreased productivity, low morale and increased internal conflict.
Okay, now you ask again, what can be done to de-stress the workplace? Well, the experts say that there are two major options open to you. Since the ability to cope adequately with everyday demands is essential to avoiding stress-induced, job-related problems, it might pay you to encourage your employees to participate in stress management trainings of various sorts.
Exercise classes, walking programs, or even yoga or other relaxation therapies can prove very useful in helping employees handle the stress of their work or home environment. Time management or organizational skills classes can also be very beneficial for reducing stress levels for some employees, by helping them to feel more in control and less overwhelmed by the demands placed upon them.
Along the same line, offering workers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) might also be a good move. EAP's are designed to help workers deal with stress they are experiencing over personal or professional issues, stress which could be affecting their job performance. If you don't think you can afford one, check with your local Chamber of Commerce. Many chambers offer a very affordable group membership in an EAP to their small business partners.
The second option, making organizational changes to improve and enhance working conditions, is much more likely to get to the root cause of stress in your workplace and to provide a stress-reduction solution that will last. Empower employees by asking for their input, listening to them, and responding appropriately. Communicate freely, efficiently and effectively sharing information that will reduce uncertainty and fear. Provide workers with clearly defined, reasonable expectations, roles, and responsibilities.
Make sure they know up-front what is expected of them and do your best to guarantee that they get the training and support they need to do their job right. Cultivate a positive atmosphere within your organization by discouraging nay-saying, celebrating accomplishments, and looking for humor in everyday situations. As they say, laughing is like jogging on the inside, so try to give your workers a good belly-laugh workout every day.
Finally, don't forget about yourself, the business owner. Even the strongest, smartest boss is susceptible to negative stress effects. So, there are two things you need to remember. Believe it or not, you aren't perfect, and you can't do everything. Moderate the expectations you have for yourself. Learn to accept good enough when it really is good enough.
And know when to say when. Whether it's a ten-minute cat nap in the cab of your truck or a two-week luxury cruise to the Bahamas, time away from the job to rest, relax, and regain your equilibrium is essential to your wellbeing and to the health of your company's bottom line.
Construction Business Owner, December 2008
