Developing recruitment partnerships

By NEHRA, 3/12/2002

1. Begin each working day with a review of priorities

Significant amounts of work stress occur because people allocate too much time for things that they can control, but which are unimportant. Also, take time-out to reflect on what HAS been accomplished during the day as opposed to reviewing all the things that remain on the action item list.

2. Clear your mind

Find time each working day to re-energize. Take a brief walk. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Or perhaps just find a few moments to read the paper and remove yourself from the current task.

3. Reward colleagues

Recognize the contributions of a colleague and let them know that they are appreciated as a member of the team. Extending compassion and recognition to others is a great investment for building a network of supporters. Reducing someone's stress through a compassionate communication will inevitably lead to a similar response down the road.

4. Respect supervisors

Keep in mind that the boss is a human being with needs. Managing upward and responding to your boss as one of your customers will lead to stress-reducing responses from him or her over time. When was the last time someone asked the boss to lunch?

5. Take care of your body during the day

This means monitoring intakes of caffeine, sugar, and other foods, which can alter mood and anxiety levels. If possible, take a mid-day exercise break.

6. Improve conflict management skills

A good way to reduce long-term stress at work and with co-workers is to improve personal conflict management skills. Conflict cannot always be resolved, but it can be managed in ways that lead to win-win situations. Allow people to win something in every negotiation.

7. Refine your listening skills

Too often communication is defined as "I talk, and you listen, and when you are talking, I'll begin to formulate my response!" Listening is a dying skill as more and more of us find it difficult to focus, concentrate and empathize when engaged in a dialogue with a colleague. The better you listen, while temporarily putting aside personal judgments/beliefs, the higher the likelihood that your daily stress levels will go down.

8. Conduct some "spot checking" of your basic beliefs and assumptions

Cognitive psychologists have taught that most stress arises from a person's irrational and perfectionistic demands of others, and ourself. For example, someone who insists on total control will inevitably experience work stress. Demanding that others always perform perfectly leads to chronic disappointment and frustration. An excellent stress buster is to review the internal demands imposed on the world, others, and oneself...and then change these demands into realistic attitudes.

9. Keep it in perspective

Work is only one part of a person's time on Earth. It is important. It often helps boost self-esteem. It can bring many financial rewards. But it is not everything and it does not define one's identity 100%. Lighten up a bit about your work. It is not life or death, and when it is not fulfilling and fun, it may be time to move on and do something different.

10. Get some rest

Our nation has an epidemic of sleep deprivation. According to experts, if people do not receive sufficient sleep over a long period of time, they can observe symptoms such as increased depression, pessimism, agitation, less tolerance of ambiguity, interference with judgment, and a general sense of frustration with normal life stressors. Monitor current sleep hygiene and don't think that a competitive advantage is gained by staying up later and waking up earlier each day, just to 'get things done.' Regular sleep is food for the brain and will help to inoculate the body against the destructive aspects of work and personal stress.

Harry J. Sobel, Ph.D, is president of Sobel & Raciti Associates, Inc., NEHRA's Membership Assistance Program (MAP) and Ethics Hotline provider. For more information please contact 1-800-227-2195 or info@sobelandraciti.com.