Managing Workplace Stress

Managing Workplace Stress:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Managing Workplace Stress Juggling Y our Full Plate Santee Cooper’s MIS Department Annual Fall Meeting: 11/8/06

Change equals workplace stress! What kind of changes occur routinely? Out of the blue? :

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Change equals workplace stress! What kind of changes occur routinely? Out of the blue? Budgetary changes Regulatory requirements Staffing freezes or hiring increases Reorganization Training requirements Mission redirection Dissonance And? In over your head?

What is change, exactly?:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com What is change , exactly? Organically, its internal or external stimuli that cause a unit (an individual, a team, a division, an organization) to accommodate/adapt/learn. How much can we handle at once?

So, what’s changing at work and what does it mean to me? Is it manageable?:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com So, what’s changing at work and what does it mean to me? Is it manageable ? Do I know what’s expected? Do I have what I need? Do I have the chance to do what I do best everyday? This week have I received recognition/praise for doing good work? Does my supervisor or someone at work care about me as a person? Is there someone at work who encourages my development? At work do your opinions count? Do I feel that my job is important in the purpose of Santee Cooper? Are my fellow employees committed to doing quality work? Do I have a best friend at work? Has someone talked to me about my progress in the last 6 months? Have I had the chance at work this last year to learn and grow?

Know the stressors::

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Know the stressors: All work and no play can be hazardous to your health – 50 hours + and high blood pressure. ¼ of employees view their jobs as #1 ¾ of employees believe the worker has more on-the-job stress than a generation ago Work problems are more strongly associated with health complaints than any other life stressor

Job stress costs!:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Job stress costs! $300 billion annually from absenteeism,  productivity, turnover and direct medical, legal and insurance fees 60-80% accidents are due to stress  Workers’ comp awards for job related stress

PRIMARY cause of job stress?:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com PRIMARY cause of job stress? It’s a matter of perspective: Worker characteristics Working conditions The chicken or the egg?

Watch out for these potential stressors!:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Watch out for these potential stressors! Design of tasks Management style Interpersonal relationships Work roles Career concerns Environmental conditions

Make healthy CHOICES to manage stress and to be resilient!:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Make healthy CHOICES to manage stress and to be resilient! Know what causes YOU stress (How do you know?) Identify what you can control and what you can’t. Remember the Serenity Prayer? Know what’s negotiable and what’s not. Seek work-life balance via diet, exercise, sleep and fun. Be organized, use your time well, be on time. Have a strong support system at work.

Tips for juggling multiple priorities:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com Tips for juggling multiple priorities Focus on personal balance FIRST. Schedule planning/organization into your day – top of the day/week. Ask: Is it a priority? Is it mine? Can it be delegated? Over communicate. Ask for what you need.

You can never know enough! Resources!:

Work Volf Consultants, LLC www.workvolf.com You can never know enough! Resources! http://humanresources.about.com/od/stressandtimemanagement/ www.cdc.gov/niosh/stresswk.html www.essisystems.com/business-case/facts.php3 First Break All the Rules by Buckingham and Coffman Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman