Every workplace has stressful elements; however, there are some environments that are more stress-intensive than others. Work-related stress is often due to a culmination of many elements: toxic coworkers, ineffective leadership, excessive workloads or simply the demanding nature of work today where technology keeps us connected to work 24/7. Without intervention, these stressors will impact employee productivity, result in disengagement and, at times, have negative manifestations in one’s physical and/or emotional health.
When you are leading a team in this type of high-stress environment, you have a responsibility to keep your team motivated and engaged. Even if the direct causes of the stressful environment are outside of your control, the good news is that there are practical approaches you can use to turn things around and reduce the impact of the stress to your team that aren’t time-, cost- or resource-intensive. Here are four things you can do to re-energize your team and help prevent or reverse employee burnout.
1. Create a positive subculture.
When the dominant culture of an organization is the cause of stress and/or frustrations for your team, as a leader, you have the power to create a more positive subculture for your employees. A subculture is formed when a group within a larger society has its own shared set of customs, attitudes and values. It is entirely within your control to build a desired culture for your team that counters any dysfunction that may be present in your organization’s dominant culture.
For example, if your organization’s dominant culture is devoid of appreciation and recognition, then go the extra mile and create a subculture where you continuously show appreciation to your team and recognize key contributions. This can be accomplished without much expense or effort, with gestures as simple as consistently saying thank you, leaving a grateful voicemail, recognizing milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries, or taking your team out to lunch. Regardless of the company you work for, there are small yet consistent things that leaders can do to make a workplace more pleasant and have an impact on morale and productivity — because with every interaction, you are in effect establishing your own subculture.
2. Reinforce the vision.
The late leadership visionary Warren Bennis said, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." When a team is experiencing adversity, it is more important than ever to unify them around common objectives and connect them to how their efforts impact the success of the organization and the lives of others. Reinforcing how their efforts contribute to the bigger picture will revive their sense of purpose.
As a human resource executive, I have led HR teams in various challenging environments, and in those circumstances I made it a point to rally the team around something bigger than any adversity we experienced as individuals — often reminding them of the significance of the support we provided to our organization. Whether we were finding the right talent or performing the critical function of processing payroll for the thousands of hardworking employees working for the organization, what we did mattered, whether it was recognized or appreciated by others.
Clearly articulating this vision and purpose can be a powerful catalyst that catapults individuals out of the frustrations of organizational dysfunction, because it redirects an individual’s energy from stress to achieving something of significance. Find ways to remind your team of what they enjoy about their jobs and the value they add to others' lives. When people are inspired, they will look beyond themselves and work with passion to pursue the goals set before them, and both the individual and the organization will be better for it.
3. Fight for your team.
When the going gets tough, great leaders will fight for their team. So, when your team is overly stressed or frustrated, make sure they know through your actions and your words that you have their backs. It may seem like a small thing, but ensuring your team knows that you are there for them, come what may, goes a long way.
An evolved leader understands that their primary role is to make others successful, and being your team’s strongest advocate is essential to their success. Whether it’s standing up to ask for the resources they need or ensuring that the team’s contributions to the bottom line are known and acknowledged, sticking up for your employees shows them that you are focused on their well-being and recognize their value. This builds loyalty and trust, and it certainly improves morale on your team and contributes to a more positive working environment, especially in periods of crisis.
Take a moment and have an honest self-appraisal about the level of support you are providing to your team: Are you a fervent advocate deep in the trenches, or a passive on-looker preoccupied with your own challenges? Whichever you become will make all the difference.
4. Have fun together.
Help the team bond by having some fun together, soon and often. Empirical studies have confirmed that positive social connections at work produce highly desirable results. During times of stress and uncertainty, being intentional about building relationships and creating positive experiences within your team is vital. Relationships matter, and so does fun.
Plan team-building activities, or even a simple happy hour. Why? Incorporating fun activities into your team’s work life will help them feel less overwhelmed by the stressors of the work environment. Additionally, when people have fun together, they get to know each other on a different level and build connections that make it easier to work positively together, even amid the most challenging environments. So, have a little fun with your team, and use the difficult times as an opportunity to strengthen relationships and camaraderie.
Help reduce the stress level of your employees with these four steps. Doing so will improve their workplace experience and re-energize them to fight another day.
