Overcome the Top 10 Causes of Workplace Stress

1. "Lack of control" - Workplace stress is in its greatest when employees don't have a say regarding things that influence them. You can decrease sensitivity to other stressors and give a sense to be in control by involving staff members in operating and administrative decisions and functioning on their input. Frontline employees know very well what they are talking about. Listening to what they need to say reduces stress and increases productivity.

2. "Lack of communications" - Poor communication causes decreased performance and increased strain. Management memos and announcements are very effective for distributing information, but two-way discussion improves communication and solicits tips and suggestions while reducing strain and complaints.

3. "No appreciation" - Failure to indicate appreciation generates stress that endangers productivity through the entire company. There are many solutions to demonstrate appreciation, but the more effective is a sincere comment about how much the person means for you and the company.

4. "No feedback - good or bad" - People wish to know whether they are meeting targets. Consistent, written and verbal, personalized feedback is required. Some people need more awareness than others, but everyone's functionality is enhanced if leaders regularly affirm individual efforts.

5. "Career and job ambiguity" - If individuals are uncertain about their jobs in addition to careers, there is a feeling associated with helplessness and of being unmanageable. In addition to the dependable job descriptions and annual staff members reviews, people need to understand a diverse range of issues that affect the business.

6. "Unclear policies and not any sense of direction" -Lack associated with focus causes uncertainty and undermines confidence in management. You need more than a well-written policy manual. Enforcement of policies and clear communications are crucial.

7. "Mistrust and unfairness" : These situations keep everyone with edge, create bad attitudes, in addition to lower productivity. It is important to keep an open type of communication to avoid misunderstanding and know what people are planning on your decisions. Managers must consistently build trust and allow equal treatment - just do the right thing.

8. "Pervasive uncertainty" - Stress levels increase rapidly after we are confronted by new specifications and procedures. Finding out what's happening and keeping staff informed facilitates control stress and increases output. Write out the information in a memo so you can review the facts. Staff users will appreciate the written investigation.

9. "Random interruptions" - The radio, pagers, walk-in visits, and spontaneous demands from supervisors all give rise to increased stress. Time management, delegation associated with responsibilities, and clarification of targets can reduce these stressors. 8. "Pervasive uncertainty" - Stress levels increase rapidly when individuals are confronted by new requirements in addition to procedures. Keeping people informed regulates stress and increases productivity. Put details in a memo so as to review the facts following your own explanations.

10. "Workload" - Employees report that they're often stressed when they have inadequate or too much to do. Managers need to divide obligations and help employees prioritize work that really must be done. Make sure you realize the impact before shifting obligations. Take into account the cost of stress prior to deciding to increase anyone's workload or hire more people.