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The new wave of leadership – engaging a stressed workforce

Increased pressure on company leaders from shareholders to tightly manage costs and cost/income ratios has to lead to unprecedented stress levels amongst workforces.

A client of mine recently explained she was responsible for four functions; she had seventeen direct reports, and no time to manage, let alone to lead. She was completely overwhelmed by continuing ‘belt tightening’ and had little idea what her leader expected of her.

One option for leaders is to forget about the stress their people are under and put up with the consequences of 30-40% unintended staff turnover.

Another option is for them to sharpen their focus in actively engaging stressed team members. Many leaders have little sense of how to prioritise the softer issues, or how to engage a valued yet stressed individual more deeply.

Techniques of managing stress at workplace

While many HR managers and leaders have a strong understanding of the issues related to stress, it often requires independent expertise or equipping HR managers and leaders with new and specific skills to move leadership behaviour in the right way.

Some examples of things leaders need to do include:

  • Scheduling agenda-free meetings with their people;
  • Developing active listening skills;
  • Demonstrate a genuine interest in the person, as well as in the business;
  • Recognise there are times to seek professional help in whatever form that may take.

So, the new wave leaders need to increase their focus on high-value team members, offer both emotional and practical support to help them cope and to seek independent assistance in keeping their leaders accountable for these softer yet most critical issues.

We offer independent expertise and provide personal value to leaders and their teams to help them deal with building greater resilience and regaining more flow in their professional and personal lives.

Get in touch with us to find out more on effective leadership skills.