Have you felt that you have been asked to do more with less at work? Are you resenting the demands and have noticed your stress levels rising?
Or on the other hand, as a leader, are you frustrated that your team appears to be unmotivated to go the extra mile needed?
Looking at the latest research on workplace
stress, it is not a surprise that it is the number one topic that I am asked to address. A 2016 study on stress indicates that it is on the rise. According to the study, commissioned by the Regus Group, 6 out of 10 workers in the global economy experience increased stress. Not a surprise as it seems “do more with less” is an all-too-familiar mantra in the workplace.
Stress, as defined by Lumina Learning, “is when the demands for personal resources (time/energy/focus), for the situation, exceed the personal resources for the time.” Whether we are at home or at work, when our recourses are depleted, we feel stressed.
Could it be that the “do more with less” does not mean fewer people to do more work? Or fewer supplies to do our work? Could there be a deeper, underlying reason?
To search for an answer let’s take a look at the biggest complaints of workplace stress according to research by Wrike:
- Missing information
- Problems with prioritization of tasks
- Unrealistic goals for projects
- Deadlines often moved around
- Unclear leadership
The problem might not be a generalized, catch-all, generic complaint. More specifically, could it be that leaders are adding to the stress by not providing clear direction and vision? Or that team members or individual contributors are not being bold and seeking the answers needed.
What can you do, as a leader or team member, to ensure the people you work with are not burning out.
- Communicate your vision. Share your passion while painting the vision. Do not think that because you shared it once, people will understand it and more importantly will be motivated and emotionally connected to the vision. As a team member, if you do not know the vision, find out.
- Listen to your people. Articulate why you hired each of your employees and make sure s/he know exactly what the job is and why it is important. Find out what s/he needs to know to do the role with excellence. Get to know your people, their back story, and what makes their heart sing. Remember that listening once isn’t enough; it is an ongoing event. Team members, if you need clarity, seek it and reciprocate with listening.
- Set and monitor working norms that create a safe place for your people. How does this minimize the stressors listed? It means that the workplace is a safe place for people to ask the questions that they need to get the job done and to sometimes challenge the decisions being made. It means that more than one brain is collaborating on the project and engaged to ensure in a brilliant result. Team members, do your utmost to sustain a healthy environment.
Next time you feel like the pressure is on, especially when it comes to doing more with less, think about what you really need and to whom you need to talk with and listen to for brilliant results.