What do you do for families when you're ready to demand a lot from employees? Are families even a part of your plan? Experience shows that stress levels go up when people are concerned about other family members.
The military has years of experience in dealing with the stress of long-term training and deployment to combat. These same principles can work for you in your business.
As soldiers prepared for war in Iraq, for example, conscientious efforts were made to balance stress control with combat readiness. None of the leaders had to create a positive stress environment to maximize preparation, but the officers and key sergeants knew they had to control the mounting stress to minimize the negative reactions among those awaiting deployment.
To help control stress, soldiers were informed of their combat mission and how long they might expect to be away from home, what their working and living conditions would be like, and details about the enemy.
Families were informed of what could be expected at home and in Iraq. Additional medical care was provided to all family members to take care of lingering problems.
Legal assistance was provided to inform everyone about wills, powers of attorney, and other matters that could be distracting to soldiers and their families after deployment.
Financial counseling was made available for anyone who needed to open or close bank accounts or get additional names on signature cards.
Whenever possible, soldiers were given additional time off to be with their families. Family counseling was provided to prepare everyone for the soldier's departure, their absence, and their eventual return.
Chaplains made every effort to prepare and encourage those who needed spiritual direction.
Some people cope well with all of these stressors and some don't. Many see the circumstances as difficult and inconvenient, but others who are just as dedicated become overwhelmed and see the situation as impossible.
Therefore, anticipating reactions to stress is important. If stress is prevented or minimized, soldiers enter into situations with a better attitude that is geared more for success.
You probably don't need to do all of this every time you expect employees to be away for lengthy periods, but you can adapt the principals to your particular situation. Some things you might do are:
* Include family members in a general information session about your company and what will be accomplished by the employees' travel
* Get professional advice for employees and families regarding special financial situations
* Establish a specific contact person who can assist family members during the employee's absence
* Outline the schedule of expected return for visits or completion of the job
Be sure to ask employees and family members about what would help them in completion of the job or for assistance to their families.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Control Stress by Caring for Families
Workplace stress takes its toll on employees just like combat and training stress take a toll on soldiers. Businesses can use the same stress control techniques as the military finds successful for soldiers in these high pressure situations.
The stress triggers of combat seem obvious, but to the uninitiated, it is difficult to explain just how stressful things can be for soldiers in the peacetime training and unit maintenance environment.
When soldiers get ready for battle, stress control is so important that trained stress specialists consult with commanders to monitor and control stress levels for both soldiers and their families.
Knowing that family members are well cared for is a big relief for combat soldiers, so every unit is charged with establishing family support groups to help with every concern.
These efforts help control stress among deployed soldiers and help families deal with their soldier’s absence.
Can you identify three things your company can do to help families during the high-stress periods in your organization? You can use this to help control stress among your highly productive, dedicated employees.
Follow Dale on Twitter - See links in right side column =====>
The stress triggers of combat seem obvious, but to the uninitiated, it is difficult to explain just how stressful things can be for soldiers in the peacetime training and unit maintenance environment.
When soldiers get ready for battle, stress control is so important that trained stress specialists consult with commanders to monitor and control stress levels for both soldiers and their families.
Knowing that family members are well cared for is a big relief for combat soldiers, so every unit is charged with establishing family support groups to help with every concern.
These efforts help control stress among deployed soldiers and help families deal with their soldier’s absence.
Can you identify three things your company can do to help families during the high-stress periods in your organization? You can use this to help control stress among your highly productive, dedicated employees.
Follow Dale on Twitter - See links in right side column =====>
Can You Hear the Cannon's Roar?
Is your corporate environment like that of soldiers preparing for battle? Are office-place stress levels pushing the max?
The stress found in military units isn't usually as dramatic as that of recruits facing drill sergeants, but the continued training, equipment maintenance, record keeping, and readiness inspections keep stress at very high levels in the military.
Even when war seems unlikely, soldiers continually prepare for wartime. Every unit trains for and is constantly evaluated on their combat readiness. Maybe your company is like this - always pushing the competition, always preparing a response to hold onto market share.
Throughout the year, combat units practice for and are tested on their individual and unit skills at all levels -- squad, platoon, company, and battalion.
The combat-like training prepares soldiers for battle. Tanks roll across difficult terrain and fire their cannons in simulated combat.
Pilots are challenged with real and simulated operations in support of ground forces. Artillery troops prepare their big guns and practice both live fire and the maneuvers required to keep up with the forward units.
Soldiers have very little time to relax properly, and families feel the strain of Army life in the soldiers' long work hours and frequent absences. You've probably seen this same type strain in your company with families wondering whether life will ever slow down, whether parents will ever get a break from the high pressure of corporate demands.
Corporate leaders can identify with the soldiers' plight. Few businesses experience the roar of cannon fire, but almost every corporate manager has known the stress of demanding business conditions and the roar of a dissatisfied boss.
Do a stress check in your outfit and decide whether people are suffering from workplace stress; find out how much this is affecting your bottom line.
Dale's Linked In and Twitter -- see links in right side column
The stress found in military units isn't usually as dramatic as that of recruits facing drill sergeants, but the continued training, equipment maintenance, record keeping, and readiness inspections keep stress at very high levels in the military.
Even when war seems unlikely, soldiers continually prepare for wartime. Every unit trains for and is constantly evaluated on their combat readiness. Maybe your company is like this - always pushing the competition, always preparing a response to hold onto market share.
Throughout the year, combat units practice for and are tested on their individual and unit skills at all levels -- squad, platoon, company, and battalion.
The combat-like training prepares soldiers for battle. Tanks roll across difficult terrain and fire their cannons in simulated combat.
Pilots are challenged with real and simulated operations in support of ground forces. Artillery troops prepare their big guns and practice both live fire and the maneuvers required to keep up with the forward units.
Soldiers have very little time to relax properly, and families feel the strain of Army life in the soldiers' long work hours and frequent absences. You've probably seen this same type strain in your company with families wondering whether life will ever slow down, whether parents will ever get a break from the high pressure of corporate demands.
Corporate leaders can identify with the soldiers' plight. Few businesses experience the roar of cannon fire, but almost every corporate manager has known the stress of demanding business conditions and the roar of a dissatisfied boss.
Do a stress check in your outfit and decide whether people are suffering from workplace stress; find out how much this is affecting your bottom line.
Dale's Linked In and Twitter -- see links in right side column
Anything Such as Positive Stress?
When new soldiers arrive for basic training, they are met by drill sergeants who are specialists at increasing stress.
The stern orders and directives might seem like harassment to the poor teenagers who seem unable to do anything right. No matter how hard they try, it is never good enough.
The high stress, however, is intentional and part of the training. While there might be some negative reactions, the purpose is to help these soldiers achiever far more than they would ever expect.
Drill sergeants know when to coach, when to instruct, when to raise the temperature, and when to use compassion to relieve the stress.
By the time the recruits graduate from basic training, they admire and respect these tyrants who manipulate the recruits' stress to help them achieve.
Stress can have positive results, especially if it is intentionally structured to reach difficult goals. If you're going to use stress in this way, be sure you know how to turn it off or the approach can backfire and you'll lose your valuable front line employees.
***Follow Dale on Twitter and Linked In - see links in column to the right.
The stern orders and directives might seem like harassment to the poor teenagers who seem unable to do anything right. No matter how hard they try, it is never good enough.
The high stress, however, is intentional and part of the training. While there might be some negative reactions, the purpose is to help these soldiers achiever far more than they would ever expect.
Drill sergeants know when to coach, when to instruct, when to raise the temperature, and when to use compassion to relieve the stress.
By the time the recruits graduate from basic training, they admire and respect these tyrants who manipulate the recruits' stress to help them achieve.
Stress can have positive results, especially if it is intentionally structured to reach difficult goals. If you're going to use stress in this way, be sure you know how to turn it off or the approach can backfire and you'll lose your valuable front line employees.
***Follow Dale on Twitter and Linked In - see links in column to the right.
Tough Questions About Workplace Stress
Mission readiness is just as great across corporate America as it is in the military.
The bottom-line costs in terms of net profits, missed opportunities, and personnel turmoil are good enough reasons to emphasize stress control, and proper stress control can contribute to business growth and job security for everyone involved.
If you want to fulfill your own responsibilities as a leader, you'll want to ask some tough questions about your own organization:
1. Are there stressful situations in your organization that need attention?
2. Are some people pushed too hard by corporate demands, family situations, or medical problems?
3. Are some people unaware of the seriousness of their situation, and do they need professional attention?
4. Will your company pay a price for not attending to these individual stress cases, or will it improve by giving attention to the stressors that affect each employee?
Circulate a memo among the decision makers with answers to these questions and proposed solutions. You'll be a hero.
Follow Dale on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dalecollie
The bottom-line costs in terms of net profits, missed opportunities, and personnel turmoil are good enough reasons to emphasize stress control, and proper stress control can contribute to business growth and job security for everyone involved.
If you want to fulfill your own responsibilities as a leader, you'll want to ask some tough questions about your own organization:
1. Are there stressful situations in your organization that need attention?
2. Are some people pushed too hard by corporate demands, family situations, or medical problems?
3. Are some people unaware of the seriousness of their situation, and do they need professional attention?
4. Will your company pay a price for not attending to these individual stress cases, or will it improve by giving attention to the stressors that affect each employee?
Circulate a memo among the decision makers with answers to these questions and proposed solutions. You'll be a hero.
Follow Dale on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dalecollie
Dictatorial Bosses Demand More & Get Less
Corporate leaders and managers sometimes try to manage the stressed people by using increased demands and closer supervision. Instead, they should use stress-reducing techniques to manage the stressors.
It's important to manage employees and to help them understand how to manage their individual stress, but if you're interested in maximizing your company's productivity, you'll also want to learn how leaders and managers can take part in the improvement.
While the demanding remedies of dictatorial managers might get short-term improvement from stressed employees, such relief is usually only temporary. The increased urgency and focus on details typically generates even more stress, and the problems shift from slight distractions, such as back pain, headaches, and inattention, to more drastic reactions such as absenteeism and medical problems, both good indicators that stress levels need attention.
Find out which changes can be made in your company to alleviate unnecessary stressors?
Follow Dale on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dalecollie
It's important to manage employees and to help them understand how to manage their individual stress, but if you're interested in maximizing your company's productivity, you'll also want to learn how leaders and managers can take part in the improvement.
While the demanding remedies of dictatorial managers might get short-term improvement from stressed employees, such relief is usually only temporary. The increased urgency and focus on details typically generates even more stress, and the problems shift from slight distractions, such as back pain, headaches, and inattention, to more drastic reactions such as absenteeism and medical problems, both good indicators that stress levels need attention.
Find out which changes can be made in your company to alleviate unnecessary stressors?
Follow Dale on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/dalecollie
Causes of Stress
Popular opinion says that today's changes in workplace technology, culture, and business management crate far more stress for workers than in times past.
Just as stress control is a military leadership responsibility, the same applies in corporate leadership. The better that leaders control stress among their people, the better the people will accomplish their mission.
Find out what your leaders are doing to control workplace stress.
Just as stress control is a military leadership responsibility, the same applies in corporate leadership. The better that leaders control stress among their people, the better the people will accomplish their mission.
Find out what your leaders are doing to control workplace stress.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
