Reducing employee stress is crucial to not only retain your workforce, but to enable them to succeed. Studies show that stress makes employees three times more likely to leave a job. Creating an environment that alleviates stress cuts out the noise that acts as a roadblock to inhibit employee satisfaction and job performance.
Psychological Safety
All employees need a safe environment. A negative environment can trigger a fight-or-flight instinct, while a positive environment fosters increased productivity and engagement. Studies show that increased stress impairs strategic thinking and creative ability. These fundamental psychological needs can be met by:
- Providing clear goals
- Increasing transparency at all levels
- Encouraging feedback
- Supporting innovative (outside the box) ideas
- Discouraging top-down thinking
Best Practices
Leaders can provide psychological safety in the workplace by implementing practices that support the kind of culture that nourishes these basic needs.
- Built-in break times – Help employees take time to relax
- Reduce operational procedure complexity – Give employees more time to do the work
- Build for private workspaces – Allow workers a place to concentrate
- Encourage work-from-home policies – Create a better work/life balance
- Give autonomy to individuals – Empower workers to make their own choices
- Ensure individuals are in the right roles – Erase job stress through proper alignment
Sources:
Peart, N. (2019, November 05). Making Work Less Stressful and More Engaging for Your Employees. Retrieved December 02, 2020, from https://hbr.org/2019/11/making-work-less-stressful-and-more-engaging-for-your-employees
“Stress-in-the-Workplace.” Hoteltechreport.com, 31 July 2020, hoteltechreport.com/news/stress-in-the-workplace.