What Managers Can Do to Help Reduce Anxiety at Work

Content

Managing anxiety on a personal level is difficult; in addition, trying to find a work-life balance can make employees feel overwhelmed or like they are faced with the impossible.

Managing anxiety on a personal level is difficult; in addition, trying to find a work-life balance can make employees feel overwhelmed or like they are faced with the impossible.

Content

Even before the pandemic happened employees were probably experiencing high levels of anxiety. As states begin to lift restrictions and businesses begin to reopen, mixed emotions about what the future holds are rampant.

Even before the pandemic happened employees were probably experiencing high levels of anxiety. As states begin to lift restrictions and businesses begin to reopen, mixed emotions about what the future holds are rampant.

Content

Anxiety, if not alleviated, can negatively affect your business.

Anxiety, if not alleviated, can negatively affect your business.

Content

Employees who are anxious are often tired, irritable, unfocused, and unmotivated. These symptoms could result in tasks taking longer than normal or deadlines being missed.

Employees who are anxious are often tired, irritable, unfocused, and unmotivated. These symptoms could result in tasks taking longer than normal or deadlines being missed.

Content

Mental Health America’s 2017 Mind the Workplace survey found that 53 percent of people who take off for stress or anxiety miss six or more days in one month. This high rate of absenteeism leads to reduced productivity and performance.

Mental Health America’s 2017 Mind the Workplace survey found that 53 percent of people who take off for stress or anxiety miss six or more days in one month. This high rate of absenteeism leads to reduced productivity and performance.

Content

Another concern is low employee morale. Low morale affects employee confidence, productivity, and enthusiasm for your company and the work you’re doing.

Another concern is low employee morale. Low morale affects employee confidence, productivity, and enthusiasm for your company and the work you’re doing.

Content

So, what are some common internal triggers for workplace anxiety?

So, what are some common internal triggers for workplace anxiety?

Content

- Tight deadlines and heavy workloads

- Tight deadlines and heavy workloads

Content

- Poor relationships with peers

- Poor relationships with peers

Content

- Issues with direct managers

- Issues with direct managers

Content

- Unresolved conflicts

- Unresolved conflicts

Content

- Job insecurity

- Job insecurity

Content

However, since there is still such a stigma around mental health, a lot of employees are afraid to speak up about their struggles and what they need from their workplace.

However, since there is still such a stigma around mental health, a lot of employees are afraid to speak up about their struggles and what they need from their workplace.

Content

Some employees fear that managers will see it as a lack of interest or unwillingness to engage or complete the work. Others fear that they will be labeled as weak because of their anxiety. And a good percentage of people feel that speaking up about their struggles will affect possible job growth or promotions or that they will be laughed at or not taken seriously. It comes full circle—when employees feel like this, morale and productivity decline.

Some employees fear that managers will see it as a lack of interest or unwillingness to engage or complete the work. Others fear that they will be labeled as weak because of their anxiety. And a good percentage of people feel that speaking up about their struggles will affect possible job growth or promotions or that they will be laughed at or not taken seriously. It comes full circle—when employees feel like this, morale and productivity decline.

Content

This begs the question: What can managers do to help their employees manage anxiety?

This begs the question: What can managers do to help their employees manage anxiety?

Content

It's important to realize is that anxiety can happen to anyone, but each person has their own unique challenges, and, therefore, will need unique resolutions.

It's important to realize is that anxiety can happen to anyone, but each person has their own unique challenges, and, therefore, will need unique resolutions.

Content

As a manager, work on developing your emotional intelligencer (EQ). Doing so can help you better understand your feelings but your team members' feelings of your team. By learning new ways to boost your EQ, you boost your ability to empathize and communicate with your team while fostering trust and relationships.

As a manager, work on developing your emotional intelligencer (EQ). Doing so can help you better understand your feelings but your team members' feelings of your team. By learning new ways to boost your EQ, you boost your ability to empathize and communicate with your team while fostering trust and relationships.

Content

By developing EQ, learning to empathize, and building relationships, you can begin to be an effective coach. Though this, you will be able to direct employees to the right resources, tools, and techniques to use when they are feeling stressed or need to diffuse a conflict. This will further build on your relationships because your employees will feel supported and like they have somewhere to turn if they need to.

By developing EQ, learning to empathize, and building relationships, you can begin to be an effective coach. Though this, you will be able to direct employees to the right resources, tools, and techniques to use when they are feeling stressed or need to diffuse a conflict. This will further build on your relationships because your employees will feel supported and like they have somewhere to turn if they need to.

Content

Check in with your employees regularly. By doing so, issues can be dealt with in a timely manner, alleviating the pressure that an employee might carry for a long time. More frequent meetings allow employees to ask questions and allow you to offer guidance or correction that may be needed. This allows for feedback to be given from both parties as well.

Check in with your employees regularly. By doing so, issues can be dealt with in a timely manner, alleviating the pressure that an employee might carry for a long time. More frequent meetings allow employees to ask questions and allow you to offer guidance or correction that may be needed. This allows for feedback to be given from both parties as well.

Content

Being mindful in times of stress or anxiety is important. Mindfulness entails being aware of what you are feeling at any given moment and exploring those feelings and how they affect you. Using this method when speaking with employees can help you and them get to the bottom of their anxiety and helps you understand why they feel the way they do.

Being mindful in times of stress or anxiety is important. Mindfulness entails being aware of what you are feeling at any given moment and exploring those feelings and how they affect you. Using this method when speaking with employees can help you and them get to the bottom of their anxiety and helps you understand why they feel the way they do.

Content

Check out our mental health playlist for ways you can help your employees feel their best .

Check out our mental health playlist for ways you can help your employees feel their best.