Mitigating Workplace Stressors

“I’m just going with the flow.” This seems to have become a common response to “How is work?”. What if we build a workspace where employees don’t just work, but they thrive? In short, the recipe for this is prioritizing genuine ‘Mental well-being at our workplace’. A quick fix approach you often see businesses do is to offer EAP services or mindfulness apps. I don’t mean to say that they are not helpful but they are just the starting point. Our focus must be on cultivating a culture where a stressful day isn't met with, “Your incentives are dependent on your performance.” Instead, we must create a work environment where leaders model healthy work-life boundaries, and openly discuss mental health. Can you think of a workplace where, instead of performance threats, a manager responds with, "Let's discuss the stress you're experiencing and find solutions." This approach not only benefits employees but also increases productivity and retention. That is the difference we need to create. Here are a couple of things to be mindful of: - Normalize Mental Health Conversations – When leaders walk the talk and have genuine conversations on mental health, work life harmony and boundaries, they are modelling a culture which puts people first.  - Redefine “Hustle” Culture – How about we make a shift from the number of hours we worked to having fewer focused hours which produce better quality.  - Train Your Managers – When you train your managers on Emotional Intelligence and active listening, it buffers out a whole lot of stress.   - Measure What Matters – Track engagement, burnout rates, and retention. If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. By doing this you are not only just retaining talent but you are also attracting your next best find. What are your thoughts on an initiative that can put people first at your workplace?

Most “stress management” initiatives in the workplace completely miss the point. April is recognized as National Stress Awareness Month and during this time, we see companies sharing meditation apps, yoga classes, and breathing techniques. And yes, those help. But if your employees are constantly in fight-or-flight mode because of how they’re treated at work… no wellness app in the world is going to fix that. Here’s what the stress management conversation needs to include: - Leading teams efficiently and building trust - Setting consistent, realistic expectations - Communicating with clarity and respect - Providing feedback that’s direct and kind - Modeling healthy work-life boundaries at the top I’ve worked with organizations that didn’t realize the stress they were “managing” was actually being created inside their culture. Don’t just talk about stress. Audit the culture that's creating it. I have helped organizations create positive workplace cultures for 16 years. If you’re ready to take the conversation beyond wellness apps, I can help you start with the hard stuff - the stuff that actually works. #CivilityAtWork #LIPostingDayApril #Stress

It is a joy to teach and support government leaders who are committed to being wise, effective, human-centered leaders! That is exactly what I had the chance to do recently when teaching at the National Criminal Justice Association's Leadership Academy in Raleigh, NC. In my two-day session on Leadership Resilience, I took them beyond the usual lessons about the human stress response and methods to self-soothe and reset. I took them on a deep dive to distinguish between the two kinds of workplace stress and identify the right solutions for each. The first is Systemic Stress. This is the stress we experience because "regular" work has been made far more stressful than it needs to be. The solution to Systemic Stress is NOT breathing, yoga, nature, or exercise. The solution to Systemic Stress is to stop making the workplace so darn overwhelming, fearful, confusing, complicated, fractured, and hopeless!! The solution to Systemic Stress is OPERATIONAL and CULTURAL. I shared strategies and tactics for individuals, teams, and organizations to minimize sources of Systemic Stress so the workplace can be safer and more clear, whole, spacious, simple, and hopeful. THEN stress goes down, and work is enjoyable. The second kind of workplace stress is Inherent Stress. This is the stress we experience because the nature of the work itself is stressful. This is work we choose to do to make a difference, knowing it is stressful. Examples of inherently stressful roles include firefighters, police, social workers, therapists, ER doctors and nurses, high-risk roles, leaders subject to intense public scrutiny, and more. Addressing Inherent Stress has two prongs. Individuals can develop and practice skills to reset from the stressors they experience. AND, even more importantly, workplaces and teams with Inherent Stress can create Cultures of Collaborative Well-Being. On such teams, when a team member experiences a trauma as part of the work, they are not left to fend for themselves. They have access to peer support, grieving rituals, backup staffing, reset breathing at team meetings, walking meetings to benefit from moving, safety to cry when needed, and more. Scientifically known practices to reset from stress are BUILT INTO THE TEAM AND ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE. No one is left on their own to fend for themselves when traumatized. This means... The teacher who was assaulted by a student in the classroom is not expected to go back into that classroom and continue teaching. They have backup. The social worker whose long-time client has passed away is supported to grieve, rather than receiving an email about the death and being immediately assigned a new case. The elected official subjected to verbal attacks during public comment is supported by all colleagues. Does this resonate with you and your work? Reach out to me to learn more about truly helpful Leadership Resilience training for your team.

Workplace stress. It's a productivity killer. Not just for individuals. But for entire organizations. Think it's an exaggeration? Consider this: ✅ 76% of workers report stress affecting their personal relationships ✅ 63% are ready to quit their jobs due to stress ✅ Stress-related health problems cost companies $300 billion annually These aren't just statistics. They're warning signs of a widespread issue. I've watched stress destroy careers and derail promising projects. It starts small in teams: ↳ Missed deadlines ↳ Interpersonal conflicts ↳ Increased absenteeism Then it snowballs organizationally: ↳ Higher turnover rates ↳ Decreased innovation ↳ Compromised decision-making at all levels Many think they're managing it. But at what cost to the company? ↳ Creativity? Stifled. ↳ Strategic thinking? Compromised. ↳ Long-term organizational health? At serious risk. Ignoring stress isn't a sign of organizational strength. It's boiling water. But here's the good news: It's possible to defuse it at scale. Here are 5 proven strategies to foster calm under pressure: 1) Recognize stress signals in the workplace. Teams show stress before individuals admit it. → Increased conflict? → Missed targets? → Low engagement? These are organizational warning signs. 2) Implement strategic breathing practices. Simple, yet effective. Encourage the 4-4-4 technique: → Inhale for 4 seconds. → Hold for 4 seconds. → Exhale for 4 seconds. Imagine the collective impact of an entire team doing this. 3) Reframe challenges company-wide. Stress often stems from perspective. Encourage teams to ask: → "What's the worst-case scenario?" → "How probable is that, really?" → "Where's the opportunity here?" A shift in organizational mindset can change stress levels. 4) Normalize strategic breaks. Constant work isn't productivity. It's a path to burnout. → Encourage 5-minute breaks every 90 minutes → Promote stepping away from workstations → Provide spaces for stretching or brief walks Watch team performance sharpen. 5) Foster a culture of self-compassion. Stop the cycle of harsh self-criticism in your organization. → Model speaking to others as you'd speak to valued colleagues → Promote kindness in feedback → Acknowledge that challenges are universal Managing stress isn't a luxury for organizations. It's essential for peak performance. Start small. Implement one technique company-wide this week. You'll be amazed at the boost in productivity (and morale). What stress-management practice has your organization found most effective? Share below. P.S. I help companies build stress-resilient teams that outperform the competition. Want to improve productivity and slash turnover? DM or Comment “Wellness” and let’s get the conversation going.

It's that time of year and it's being shared by most of my clients - the accumulating stress of trying to get as much done as possible before year end! And, while stress in the workplace is inevitable (and I think some stress can be good), unmanaged, high levels of long-term stress can really harm productivity and bring down team engagement and morale! As an executive coach working with high achievers, I see firsthand how stress impacts performance—and how the right strategies can make all the difference. Here’s a quick breakdown of how stress affects productivity and what we can do about it: 💡 Short-Term Impacts of Stress: Lower confidence Poor focus and memory Emotional reactions (being triggered more easily!!) 💡 Long-Term Impacts of Stress: Increased absenteeism Low motivation Team morale issues Missed goals The good news? There are ways to tackle workplace stress effectively and it's all about the micro actions you implement on a daily basis. ✨ For Employees: Take regular breaks 🧘 (Make your tech work for you and schedule it!) Practice mindfulness (Be mindful of your thoughts and its impact on you.) Get movement in (With walking or your preferred activity.) Share concerns with your work bestie (And get some laughs in too!) ✨ For Employers: Encourage walking meetings 🚶♂️ Create "focus blocks" for uninterrupted work Offer occasional long weekends to recharge Host wellness programs or mental health workshops Tools like the Pomodoro Technique, stress-tracking apps, and ergonomic workspaces can also help reduce stress and boost productivity. 💭 Final Thoughts: Stress is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to derail success. By creating a supportive environment and prioritizing stress management, businesses can help employees thrive—leading to stronger performance and happier teams. How does your organization handle stress in the workplace? Let’s discuss! ⬇️ #executivecoach #mindsetexpert #keynotespeaker #thoughtleader #stress #burnout #mentalwellness #wellness #successstrategies #leadership #stressstrategies