Stress. It is everywhere. But it seems to be getting worse in the workplace. A leader can choose to alleviate, ignore or increase the stress level in the workplace.
After Winning Workplaces conducted their two-year research study on the American Workplace, they found that 66% of employees regularly experienced high levels of stress on the job. A recent study released by Carnegie Mellon University shows that stress continues to increase in America. “Stress levels increased over the three studies, roughly 10 to 30 percent across all categories, between 1986 and 2009,” writes Charles Poladian in an article “Stressin’ USA, Looking at 30 Years of Stress in America” published by Medical Daily.
If you don’t believe me about levels of stress. Perform a quick social experiment. Get in your car and try each of the following: 1) Drive under the speed limit for five miles, 2) When a red light turns green, don’t move for 10 seconds, and 3) Drive the posted safer speed limit in a construction zone. When you perform each of the following, take a friend so they can video all the nice motorists who are going to say hello with one finger, plus a few choice words.
Back to the workplace. Leaders have the responsibility of lowering the pressure in the workplace. Find out what is causing the stress and allow people to let the air out. People work better when they are relaxed. Stress is a terrible workplace companion. It eventually starts to tear down the mind and body, and you don’t want that.
Graphic Credit: “Nervous Breakdown” by Photographer Vince Penman
