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How do you keep people calm when work is pure chaos and the stress levels are high?

The good news is that you are not alone.  Almost all organizations seem to be experiencing extreme change.  The bad news is that knowing this probably does not make you feel any better.

For most people, change means uncertainty and stress.  As the stress intensifies, we become more uncomfortable. While you may not be able to do much about the change, you can act on the stress.  Here are three general approaches that will help you deal with the change.

• Gather information. While much may be unknown, one strategy is to uncover as much of the mystery as possible.  Most people want to know four things.  (1)  Why are we changing?  (2)  What does the change look like?  (3)  How will things work leading up to and after the change?  (4)  What do I need to do?  If you lead a team, share as much as you can.  If you are a team member, keep your eyes and ears open, and start asking questions.

• Take action. During change, much of the stress comes from the feeling of being out of control.  Find things that you do control and take action.  Serving your customers, improving the way you do your work, and jumping on board with the implementation will help you regain your sense of control.

• Practice effective coping. Sometimes you will be in the dark, and you will not have reasonable options.  In these cases, coping is your best strategy.  Take care of your body.  Take your mind off the situation by engaging in hobbies or other fun pursuits.  Use your support system to discuss your concerns.  Be good to yourself.

You can’t keep things from changing, but you can manage your way through it.  Pick your strategy and go for it.