If we acknowledge and accept that we are all responsible for our stress levels and for the way that we respond to stressful situations, it actually gives us a great deal of power. Once we are willing to be accountable for our own stress, we gain access to nearly endless ways to combat it. It requires that we examine our own habits for ways that our behavior may be contributing to our stress or to the stress of others and then take the actions necessary to improve those behaviors.

Additional Tips for Employees

Let’s first look at what any employee can do to help manage stress in the workplace. Some tips for reducing stress in your work environment that may be related to your own behavior include:

• Forget perfection. Those of us who strive for perfection in everything we do are asking for stress. Nothing will ever be completely perfect, and by putting unrealistic pressure on ourselves or others, we are guaranteeing that we will experience or inflict stress. • Take responsibility for your commitments. Are you always running late to work? Do you tend to oversleep or forget things? Make a commitment to yourself to take the actions necessary to correct these stress-causing behaviors. Buy a second alarm clock, adapt a calendar system that works for you, and plan extra time for completing tasks or getting to                         appointments.
• Stop stinking thinking. Watch out for negative talk, negative thoughts, and unconstructive criticism – both of yourself and of others. Try to stay positive about your work and your accomplishments and acknowledge others for their contributions instead of concentrating on their shortcomings.
• Know when to walk away. Feel that fuse getting shorter and your temper rising? Take responsibility for your own well being by knowing when to walk away and take a break.
• Spend a few moments calming yourself before you return to the situation with a clear head and an open mind.

Additional Tips for Employers or Supervisors

We know that a low-stress workplace is a happier, healthier, more productive workplace, so it’s in the best interest of employers and organizations to take steps to help lower the stress level in the office.

Some suggestions include:

• Work to improve communication. Employees can have very creative imaginations. They may be concerned about their work quality, performance, or their role and how you want them to perform. But you can reassure them by keeping communication open with your employees and letting them know where they stand. Be clear about your expectations and praise them when they do well or explain why and how they can improve.
• Consider your employees. When you can, let employees have a say in decisions that will affect them or their jobs. Do what you can to accommodate their needs, preferences, and concerns. Try to match the jobs you give to employees with their skills so that they feel comfortable and confident. If you do decide to challenge them to step outside of their comfort zone, be sure that you have given them the tools and resources they need to be successful.
• Offer incentives or rewards. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool. By providing rewards and incentives you are giving your employees clear signals about what they need to do to be considered successful in their jobs. Offer training opportunities and chances for career advancement to show that you value employees and their contributions.
• Foster a team environment. Recognize that your employees may spend more time with each other than with their own families. Allow opportunities for them to interact socially and build bonds. Encourage them to support each other and learn from each other.