Provide periods of concentrated effort. During high-stress periods people usually find it more difficult to concentrate on the work in front of them. These are the times that phones ring off the hook and people find themselves overrun by walk-in visitors. One technique for creating a stress-managed environment is to meet with your team to determine the most quiet, uninterrupted location in your facility.

This might be an unused conference room, the company cafeteria (morning or late afternoon), or even an isolated corner of your office. In addition, see if your group is willing to set up a schedule which will enable members to cover each others’ phones and handle walk-in interruptions. The goal should be to provide each member with one or two hours of uninterrupted, concentrated effort each day. This will enable them to follow through on difficult projects, concentrate more effec¬tively on their work, and have a re-energizing period during the day.

Focus on the controllable. One of the biggest factors in work stress is the fear of being overwhelmed by factors outside one’s control. For your group, this means dealing with large-scale changes that are perceived as unknown, uncontrollable, and potentially dangerous. Look for ways to keep your group apprised of important changes and redirect its focus to those aspects of change that are within its control.

Tags: stress, stress management

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