Good leaders know that it’s their responsibility to control
workplace stress. Even those managers and leaders who
disregard the wellbeing of employees know that controlling
stress is one of the best ways to improve productivity and
boost the bottom line.
The US Army has studied stress for years because it was
discovered in World War II that as many soldiers are lost to
combat stress as are lost to enemy gun fire. Along the way,
someone noted that the losses to stress were much less in well
trained units where morale is high and esprit de corps is the
norm.
Elite forces lose only one soldier to stress for every ten lost
to enemy fire, and a large part of their success comes from
rock solid teamwork. These teams are taught to confront
stressors head on, to achieve in spite of adverse conditions.
Companies who pay attention to morale and teamwork also find
lower personnel turnover, fewer accidents, and surprisingly,
lower health care costs. Those who harden their teams to
workplace stressors are doing a favor for both the team
members and the company.
Here are ten ways most managers can toughen up their teams to
the stressors they can expect at work.
1. Implement a series of deadlines for leaders and
employees.Increase the stress a little by setting deadlines a
few days before the work must actually be finished.
2. Announce increased performance expectations in every area.
Those employees who object to higher expectations will leave to
make room for those who are willing to do more in the face of
increased stress. Employees who do achieve will appreciate
their accomplishment and morale will increase. As with the
elite soldiers, people like to do their best.
3. Increase the frequency of personnel reviews. Highlight
strengths and weaknesses so everyone knows what is expected of
them. The reviews might increase stress somewhat, and the
confirmation of jobs well done will reduce stress. Employees
will know how they fit into the team.
4. Create ever-increasing expectations for those who perform
well. Give high achievers a chance to do even more and show
how much they can accomplish. Don’t forget to reward them
appropriately.
5. Assign teams to tackle necessary improvements. The Army
does this by assigning tougher and tougher missions to those
who do well, increasing team bonding and morale. This pays off
in times of high stress because everyone knows their team can
perform well.
6. Allow teams to compete against each other to achieve team
objectives. Make sure the objectives realistically contribute
to the organizations success. Which team has the fewest
absences? Which can do their work error free? Keep raising
the bar of excellence.
7. Implement mandatory off-site social activities. If it’s
impossible to bring everyone together for an evening or weekend
event, schedule the event during work hours. The resulting
morale and stress endurance will more than pay for the few
hours lost on the job.
8. Provide challenging team confidence builders, on site and
away. Schedule some mini-adventure training exercises at work
or at a local venue – go cart racing, rock climbing, ropes
course, bowling alleys, and high school tracks are all
available and will all contribute to a stronger team and stress
resistance.
9. Personally monitor and be involved in significant team
assignments. Army commanders follow the action throughout the
projects, making sure everyone achieves intermediate objectives
and getting frequent situation reports. Let people you care
about their success as a team, and do what’s necessary to
support them.
10. Publicly recognize and reward those who achieve well —
memos, letters, certificates, trophies, team apparel, logo
mugs, etc.
Stress resistance increases as morale and team spirit builds.
Everyone will enjoy their work more. Absences will decrease.
Health care costs will go down. Productivity will rise.
Copyright 2010 – Dale Collie – All Rights Reserved