TomLaForce.com

Workplace stress levels seem to be at all time highs. With budgets slashed and staffing levels cut; many people have too much to do and not enough time to get it all done.

When stress levels go up, teamwork often heads in the other direction. Stress affects us in a variety of ways. It saps our energy, changes our moods, and messes with our concentration. Instead of supporting each other, we start snapping at our teammates. Bad behavior wears on relationships.

While stress does create a lot of problems in organizations, it doesn’t necessarily have to. How do I know? Because there are plenty examples where two people can be in the exact same circumstances, one deals with it while the other melts down. This same phenomenon shows up when examining whole departments and even organizations. Some remain effective during tough times and others don’t.

Learning to manage our stress and applying what we learn is part of being an effective team member. One might also say it’s part of being an adult. I do a lot of stress management workshops, and share with people the same strategies that others before me have shared. The information isn’t new. The problem is that we don’t apply it. Which of these strategies might you make use of in your team?

• Use diversion. If you aren’t thinking about the stressors in your life, they won’t affect you. So one popular and relatively easy strategy is to distract yourself by watching a movie, playing with your kids, or diving into your favorite hobby. Taking your mind off the problem for awhile isn’t a long term fix, but it’s a great way to give your body and mind a break.
• Straighten out your thinking. Stress isn’t a result of what happens to us; it’s a result of the story we tell ourselves about what happens to us. Sometimes those stories are pretty incredible. They don’t represent reality and aren’t helpful. Make sure the stories you tell yourself make sense. The power of positive thinking really is…well…powerful.
• Solve the problem. Most of the things that cause stress in our lives can be defined as problems. The best way I know to remove stress is to solve the problem that’s creating it. Life is full of problems. Instead of worrying about them, why not take action? Think about those times where you gave more energy to worrying about the problem than you gave to actually solving it. That’s what I call wasted energy.

Stress really can mess up our relationships and teamwork. If you notice it taking a toll on yours, revisit the three strategies and put one or more of them to work for you.