How to Cope up Stress at Workplace

1. How to Cope up Stress at Workplace “Often in Business,your most important asset isn’t your clients; it’s your loyal employees. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your clients.” There’s a silent killer in almost every workplace. It hides in the shadows, draining your energy & canning your concentration. Its name? STRESS… Countless studies prove that excess stress causes physical symptoms like upset stomach, headaches, increased blood pressure, and insomnia and chest pain. Here, I’m sharing one of my personal stories from a few years back: I had been promoted to my first management job for my excellent performance. One fine morning, I got a resignation letter that said: “I quit”… It was a letter from one of my best guys. I always had a great experience working with her when I was a developer myself. I was shocked at that instance. © 2011-2019 Orangescrum Research Lab, San Jose, California 1

2. I asked her- Why? She said she was feeling unappreciated, unvalued & not seeing any prospects of career growth. Just have a look at the image below: In her case, I couldn’t see many boxes ticked. For sure I always appreciated and valued her, but couldn’t show that to her. After a long conversation, I convinced her to stay, saying “I am learning to be a leader and she gave me a great lesson”. I asked her for another chance. She agreed and stayed on. We worked together for a longer period. And this scenario is not confined to any specific industries; the problem is widespread. 65% of adults say that work is the source of their significant stress Research says, the percentage of stressed American employees is very high and getting higher day-by-day. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, the number of Americans who are “extremely stressed at work” range between 29% to 40%. © 2011-2019 Orangescrum Research Lab, San Jose, California 2

3. People are asking: Is there any way to maintain a steady focus throughout the day at the workplace? How to keep yourself cool under so many demands? There are several ways to manage stress at the workplace. Let’s talk about those simple strategies for workplace stress management that anyone can follow. Develop a Healthy Response: Figure out the specific reasons behind your stress & how you react to those. Put on your thinking cap: Is this a healthy response? If that’s not affecting your mind and body, no worries. In case, you are getting affected by it… give it some thought. Healthy food, regular exercise, and a good environment can help you feel stronger and healthier. © 2011-2019 Orangescrum Research Lab, San Jose, California 3

4. Stay Calm: Plan a few minutes at the beginning and end of each day to be calm. When you feel like the situation is out of control and you just can’t bear it anymore,PAUSE. Take a few deep breaths & just pause. At the end of your workday, check out your state of mind. Any task that’s left incomplete, keep that for the next day. Don’t stress much, it may hamper your productivity in the long run. For this, most companies are now providing stress management training at their workplaces. People need to rest their minds, to come back with a fresh and renewed mindset the next morning. Get Excited: Be confident with your inner thoughts. Take control of negative thoughts to shift your mindset and mood. Focus on what you’re good at and plant positive thoughts in place of negative ones. Be open to new responsibilities and hit them with enthusiasm. © 2011-2019 Orangescrum Research Lab, San Jose, California 4

5. “Your perspective of stressful office events is typically a subjective interpretation of the facts, often seen through the filter of your own self-doubt”. Sharon Melnick, a business psychologist Change your panorama. Face your stress like a challenge that you will confidently handle. Stay Away from Dispute: If conflict finds you anyway, learn how to deal with it competently. Interpersonal conflicts can hamper your emotional and physical health at work. Fights/arguments or disputes among co-workers are difficult to totally escape from. You should rather try to avoid conflicts as much as possible. Avoid sharing your personal opinions or indulge yourself in someone else’s business. Try to avoid the kind of people who don’t work well with others. Wrapping Words: Stress is an undeniable part of life, but you can choose how you respond to it. By finding positive ways to deal with stress in your life, you can manage the challenges you face, feel restored and empowered once again. When employees are held accountable for their responsibilities, they perform better and learn faster. Make employees’ happiness your first priority. There’s a saying… If you do not like where you are, MOVE. You are not a tree. Make sure it doesn’t come to that, with your employees. Flexible work environment, proper planning and strategies are much needed among the supervisor and employee to work together for more productivity. © 2011-2019 Orangescrum Research Lab, San Jose, California 5