For over 20 years, Toni’s career has moved forward. Respected for her technical expertise, she is an “outstanding contributor.” But the feedback on her people skills is another story. Relationships are strained. While “brilliant” she is seen as unapproachable. Her personal influence is restricted by impatience and no tolerance for incompetence.
How much stress do you think Toni experiences and adds to the workplace?
Workplace stress
The Wall Street Journal reports “Stress is the number one workforce risk issue, ranking above physical inactivity and obesity” when it comes to health and productivity. However, employers and employees disagree on the causes of stress. Towers Watson’s recent Staying@Work Survey reveals the differing views.
The employer view of the top 5 causes of employee stress:
- Lack of work/life balance (excessive workloads or long hours)
- Inadequate staffing (lack of support, uneven workload or performance in group)
- Technologies that expand availability during non-working hours
- Unclear or conflicting job expectations
- Fears about job loss; too much change
The employee view of their stress:
- Inadequate staffing (lack of support, uneven workload or performance in group)
- Low pay or low increases in pay
- Unclear or conflicting job expectations
- Organizational culture, including lack of teamwork, and tendency to avoid accountability and assign blame to others
- Lack of work/life balance (excessive workloads or long hours)
If your goal is to reduce stress, the employee’s message is: “Pay me adequately. Support me on the job. Guide me on my job priorities.”
What if…?
What does it take to thrive in today’s stressful, lean and mean workplace? At least part of the answer is self-managed teams and leaders. Check out a few of their characteristics to see if you agree:
- Gets the business of people (understands who they are and the behavior styles of others)
- Communicates and engages others effectively
- Sets clear expectations
- Establishes and builds trust
- Accepts personal responsibility
- Accountable to self and team
- Creates less stress and unnecessary conflict
- Engaged and highly productive
Imagine your workplace experience as you and your team show up like that. The reward? Engagement, productivity, performance, less stress and unnecessary conflict.
How committed are you to leadership development?
Toni is fortunate her company supports personal and professional growth. Executive coaching created space to activate her ability and willingness to learn and change unproductive behavior. She gained insight into the “why” of her behavior and picked up a few new tools. Her performance improved bringing less stress and unnecessary conflict.
The organization did not change. She changed. Now she is more engaged, productive, and is expanding her personal influence. Work is less stressful for her and her colleagues.
So how stressful is your workplace? How much do you add to the stress? What can you do to reduce the stress?
Now, about your performance improvement plan for 2014 …
Here’s to your Next Level,
Steve
Improve engagement, performance, and productivity by developing self-managed teams and leaders in 2014. Check out the support offered with team-based coaching or executive coaching.
Photo credit: Fabio Gismondi via Compfight
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