by admin | May 29, 2014 | Anger, Emotions, Inspiration, Resources, Stress, Work
It’s the Christmas season and time to start thinking about the Christmas office party. The one time of the year we can all let our hair down and enjoy the Christmas cheer together. It’s the one occasion you can snog your boss and watch your manager make a drunken fool of himself. Lets spare a thought for our managers for a moment. Could it be managers are the most stressed out people in the office? Managers pressure from Above and below In fact it’s in our best interest to keep our managers stress free and calm this Christmas, because stress is so contagious. Like second-hand smoke, stress spreads just as fast and lingers for just as long. There’s a fine line between bad stress and good stress. Good stress is called ‘Eustress’ and it motivates us to be more than what we think we are, while bad stress is called ‘Anger’ and it leads to chronic illnesses like heart disease and death. A good manager is someone who delegates tasks and checks their own stress levels to ensure their stress doesn’t affect others. Good managers will never under-estimate the ill affects of second-hand stress. Learn to stay alert and set your boundaries against stressful external sources, because it’s very easy to let someone else’s anxiety or sense of urgency increase your own inner feelings of stress. Second-hand stress is as contagious as the pneumonic plague! It’s that serious! A good manager is a good communicator Pressured from above to get the job done on time, within budget and by the book; a good manager will turn the stress...
by admin | May 29, 2014 | Resources, Stress, Video, Work
Stress in the work place is an ‘epidemic’ shouts the Independent newspaper’s headline. Statistics are plentiful and well researched by such institutions as the Health & Safety Executive, the MIND charity, to the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. The reality is that stress at work is the single biggest cause of sickness in the UK, with the occupations worst affected being nurses, teachers and care workers. Middle management seem to be the firing line the most, having stress poured on them from above and thrown up from below. No doubt we each have a story of someone totally loosing their temper at work and going berserk. The stressors are too numerous to count. Harassment from bosses and colleagues, to a computer that doesn’t work as fast as you want it to, to a colleague with annoying habits, to a boss who is constantly on your back to work harder in less time. A quarter of people say they have quit a job because of an unsupportive manager, while 17% have left because of excessive workloads. Admit it, we have all phoned in sick to avoid work, “Sorry Boss I’ve got stomach bug” is the most common lie, closely followed by “I’ve got a splitting headache”. If we were to tell the truth, the conversation would be more like “I just can’t cope with coming into work today, I need a day off to recharge my batteries to deal with the long hours, the excessive work load and the bullying I get from you and other colleagues.” According to the Health & Safety Executive’s survey, over 105 million days are...
by admin | May 29, 2014 | Media, Statistics, Stress, Work
A company policy which may look good on paper could be bad for the health. Sometimes, procedures established to ensure the smooth running of a business may have consequences that are to the detriment of both employer and employee. Take, for example, the way company policies on employee contact at times of illness are followed. If not conducted with care, the result could be damaging to the long term health of the member of staff, their relationship with the business and their ongoing effectiveness. Very often, if somebody is away from work with an illness, particularly if it is in relation to depression or stress, it is preferable if that person is given the appropriate space for their recuperative needs. As much as it is important for companies to keep track of employees’ health, it is the focus of these contacts which needs to be considered. All too often, the direction of the conversation will be geared around how soon the member of staff will be returning to work. This line of questioning will certainly instil feelings of guilt in a conscientious employee, leading them to return as soon as possible, often before they are truly ready to be back at work. In such situations, the risk of a circle of ill health can be created, with the premature return leading to further problems, more time off and then more guilt and feelings of obligation to go back to work early again. The focus during such contacts needs to be on the individual’s wellbeing. Replace “when will you be back?“ with “how are you feeling?“ and the employee is...
by admin | May 29, 2014 | Anger, Mindfulness, Resources, Stress, Work
9am- 5pm- stuck on a rotating chair, in front of a screen, making the same small talk with the same people since you started work. Deadlines are looming, e-mails are flying, and the pressure is mounting. Let’s face it anger, tension and outbursts in the workplace are inevitable. So how do we keep conflict clean? How do we express our anger and frustration in a productive way? The balance is delicate. On the one hand, by biting your tongue you may eventually explode. However, if you are constantly aggressive you might lead yourself down a path of abusive behaviour. Sharing your frustrations with your work colleagues and letting your anger out can actually serve to strengthen your work relationships, and perhaps lead to a more productive team. On the other hand, shouting alarms people and could drive them away and impede on their ability to be productive. Conflict is healthy and can be very productive. This is why learning how to express your anger in a clean and healthy way is so important. Next time you feel angry try and follow these tips: · Try to listen when the other person is talking. This is a sign of respect, and entitles you the same platform to voice your opinions. · Something to remember is that your opinions are not fact, and that everyone is entitled their own opinion. · Expectations are a waste of time; they only lead to disappointment because they are unrealised resentments just waiting to happen. · At the end of the day, an important lesson to learn is that it is ok to agree to disagree. But in the heat of...
by admin | Mar 20, 2014 | Stress, Work
Lets spare a thought for our managers for a moment. Could it be managers are the most stressed out people in the office? Managers pressure from Above and below In fact it’s in our best interest to keep our managers stress free and calm this Christmas, because stress is so contagious. Like second-hand smoke, stress spreads just as fast and lingers for just as long. There’s a fine line between bad stress and good stress. Good stress is called ‘Eustress’ and it motivates us to be more than what we think we are, while bad stress is called ‘Anger’ and it leads to chronic illnesses like heart disease and death. A good manager is someone who delegates tasks and checks their own stress levels to ensure their stress doesn’t affect others. Good managers will never under-estimate the ill affects of second-hand stress. Learn to stay alert and set your boundaries against stressful external sources, because it’s very easy to let someone else’s anxiety or sense of urgency increase your own inner feelings of stress. Second-hand stress is as contagious as the pneumonic plague! It’s that serious! A good manager is a good communicator Pressured from above to get the job done on time, within budget and by the book; a good manager will turn the stress of the job to eustress and set it as a challenge. Keeping in mind managers are paid to crack the whip and push us to our limits, they could be doing us a favour. Complained to from below at having to work too hard, too long and for too little; the managers get...
by admin | Mar 3, 2014 | Stress, Work
Stress in the work place is an ‘epidemic‘ shouts the Independent newspaper’s headline. Statistics are plentiful and well researched by such institutions as the Health & Safety Executive, the MIND charity, to the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health. The reality is that stress at work is the single biggest cause of sickness in the UK, with the occupations worst affected being nurses, teachers and care workers. Middle management seem to be the firing line the most, having stress poured on them from above and thrown up from below. No doubt we each have a story of someone totally loosing their temper at work and going berserk. The stressors are too numerous to count. Harassment from bosses and colleagues, to a computer that doesn’t work as fast as you want it to, to a colleague with annoying habits, to a boss who is constantly on your back to work harder in less time. A quarter of people say they have quit a job because of an unsupportive manager, while 17% have left because of excessive workloads. Admit it, we have all phoned in sick to avoid work, “Sorry Boss I’ve got stomach bug,” is the most common lie, closely followed by “I’ve got a splitting headache.” If we were to tell the truth, the conversation would be more like “I just can’t cope with coming into work today, I need a day off to recharge my batteries to deal with the long hours, the excessive work load and the bullying I get from you and other colleagues.” According to the Health & Safety Executive’s survey, over 105 million days are...
