Fri, 2 Jan 2009
Managers need to think about how they can adequately
handle stress, it has been advised.
Effective managers are the ones who understand what the best way for them to relieve stress is and to give themselves the time to do this, an industry expert has suggested.
People deal with stress in a number of different ways, with some coping better than others and some even excelling under pressure.
But it is important to be " very self aware" in order to understand the best way to tackle anxiety and strain, explained recruitment consultancy Stark Brooks.
Some find spending time in the gym and exercising helps them let off steam, while a few may need to take a short break or holiday to get rid of tension.
Other employers, explained managing director Sally Toumi, deal with stress by having someone to talk to – either in the business or outside. This can help solve any problems and reveal that sometimes the issues are not as big as first thought.
"Ultimately, it doesn’t come down to the person as much as the issue of good communication," she said.
"The ones that don't flap under pressure are generally the ones who have a team underneath them with a clear, concise message."
Regardless of the size of the company, people face the same pressures and it is vital that they use an outlet that works for them to let out stress, she added.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), one in five people say they find their work either very or extremely stressful and over half a million believe that work-related stress has actually made them ill.
Under HSE guidelines, there are certain areas managers can concentrate on to try and reduce the amount of stress in the work place.
These include monitoring workloads and patterns, encouraging and supporting colleagues, dealing with unacceptable behaviour to help avoid conflict, and ensuring employers understand their role in the company.
Thanks for your help,
The learndirect team