how to support colleagues in stressful situations

This will make it easier for her to achieve "quick wins Through colleague support we model effective supportive relationships, meaning we are more able to do this with our clients.   All rights reserved. .". While a certain amount of pressure is a part of everyday life, and can actually help people to perform better But, if you do this, always get the person's consent beforehand. © 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Just take a deep breath. “First, they are not thinking rationally,” explains Brandon Smith, The Workplace Therapist, “Their emotions play a role in their decision-making and can easily boil over.”. Death in the Family. . Avoiding your feelings can prolong the grieving process. Reduce isolation by listening and being empathetic. “It’s smart to slow down a bit and either give more leading information or ask leading questions,” Weeks advises. . When you finally escape from her desk, you feel frantic and rather tight-chested yourself — not to mention that you still don’t have the answer you needed in the first place. Use Policy. At first glance, they might seem like helpful and encouraging phrases. You want to get that conversation over with and walk away with what you need. But, apparently you had absolutely zero idea what you were in for. Why not join our social care community? Reaching out to someone under a lot a stress could. In other words, try some good old-fashioned kindness. Popular recently has been a “drop in” lunch once a week.   Emotionally, our needs are met, and so we can meet the needs of clients. She has far too much on her plate. Through colleague support we model effective supportive relationships, meaning we are more able to do this with our clients. But see if you can "reframe" the behavior of the other person, especially if you think that your friend has misconstrued things. Stress can cause severe health problems and, in extreme cases, death. (2014). Stress If Lyra had recognized this, and known how to support her, she might have been able to help, and to preserve their friendship. You want the best possible outcome for your co-worker, but this mustn't come at the expense of your own well-being. is what happens when the demands placed on someone exceed what he or she can readily cope with.   If the root of your co-worker's stress does fall into once of the three sources above, use these strategies to offer some practical solutions: People with challenging workloads often struggle because they're unable to see an end to what they have to do. Sometimes, just knowing that someone is listening can go a long way toward easing the burden of stress. For example, "I've noticed that you don't seem quite yourself lately. It can be tricky to know how to help friends or colleagues who are suffering from stress. Additionally, stress can cause people’s thoughts to be scattered — making it difficult to follow their logic. Why do it? Workplace Stress [online]. and sensitive. Your support can help to the ease the impact of these "side effects" and to keep team relationships strong. “Stressed-out people are trying to get rid of their stress by talking it out,” says Weeks, “They’re trying to get it out verbally and put it aside. Colleagues who feel overwhelmed also will become more internally focused, rather than externally focused — meaning they care less about the needs of those around them. Needless to say, there are a multitude of reasons that communicating with people when they’re stressed is a unique challenge. or mentoring Ultimately, these sorts of phrases are unproductive and oftentimes downright condescending. *Source: Google Analytics Annual User Count, based on average performance for years 2017 to 2019. The learning and development hub is funded by Skills for Care. Here’s what you need to know. Chances are, you can't help with this particular problem, except by suggesting the possibility as tactfully and positively as possible. , and to seek help from his line manager or from HR. , which can help to alleviate stress too.     Store, Corporate Everyone does not have the guts to accept the mistakes. Reach Out For Support; Stressful situations can be easier to handle when you have others that can help support you throughout it. Lyra couldn't help but notice the change in Cassie. And within these situations, we make tough decisions which can change a child’s future. But, implementing these strategies will help you have a more productive conversation—while fostering a reputation as a polite and supportive team member. We all know it’s not that simple, but it’s a start. Even if your organization has a policy on mental health and an active HR manager or team, it's most likely a friend or co-worker who'll be the first person to notice a change in someone's behavior that could indicate stress. It’s not easy. Supporting a Friend or Co-Worker Suffering From Stress. Then assign a number to each task, based on its priority So, here are 10 of the most common stressful situations and how you can cope with the pressure that comes with them.   There are a couple of different things that make it challenging to communicate with people who are in a stressed-out state. Who’s going to pick up the pieces when our home life falls apart because we’ve put too many hours in at work? And the worst one of all: sometimes there’s no milk for a brew! But, when a team member of yours is feeling particularly overwhelmed, there’s usually nothing better than reaching out with a genuine offer to help. When you boil it down, successfully communicating with an overwhelmed co-worker involves putting someone else’s needs in front of your own. Start by helping your co-worker to get organized. By simply mentioning the fact that he or she appears to have a full plate, you open an invitation for your colleague to candidly talk about his or her stress. “You want your stressed colleague to be the way he is when he isn’t stressed, and you’ll try to urge him toward that — which probably isn’t going to work,” adds Weeks “There’s this effort to push people to be themselves in a different moment, but that will only raise the stress a lot higher.”. Are you OK? At my work we have a joke that we can’t hide how we’re feeling because we work in an office of social workers. So she kept quiet. The American Institute of Stress, (2012). We work with vulnerable children living in horrendous circumstances; the stuff nightmares are made of. If a workload is too great, encouraging each other to address this with managers is key. But, they’re actually some of the worst things you can say to people when they’re feeling frazzled. This will show him that you're engaged and that you care. Very interesting article. If the problem is severe and persistent, encourage him to contact your organization's employee assistance program, if it has one, which may be able to provide professional help. . “The best approach for dealing with a stressed co-worker is to acknowledge their stress,” explains Smith. And still we do this job, as child protection social workers. Here’s how I see it…”, “You’re really throwing your co-worker a life ring in a sense, and he or she will be sure to grab it,” Weeks adds, “Rather than telling that stressed-out person to focus, you’re giving him or her something to actually focus on.”. What's more, stress can cause people to become even more disorganized and confused, and the whole cycle begins again. You might be scared of causing offense, making it worse, or causing the other person to become angry All of these communication tactics are helpful. At these times you need someone to check you’re alright, or simply make you a brew. Instead, they’re thinking, ‘Here’s what I want.’ In reality, the chances of getting that when your colleague is stressed are actually quite small.”. But who’s accountable for us? The fact we are working together to say “this is not acceptable” helps, and opens the door to each other for support. It may take a bit of courage to approach him at first, particularly if he's frequently angry or upset. There is nothing worse than losing your loved one. It might spike at regular intervals (when preparing monthly reports, say, or meeting mortgage payments), be continuous (a difficult relationship at work or at home), or be a one-off (coping with a bereavement or a personal loss It might be a hard "pill to swallow," but, in some cases, people who feel under-skilled and ill-prepared for their jobs may benefit from a change of role. FREE 36-page Toolkit to help you beat stress, protect yourself from burnout, and stay calm under pressure. The workload is exacerbated by the fact families don’t tend to wait until you’re less busy to have a crisis. However, it’s important that you remind yourself that stress is often a very reasonable response. Now, let’s get the kettle on. Listen carefully to what your co-worker is experiencing, and see whether you can offer a different perspective. now and again, and make sure that he knows that you're always available as a "sounding board.". Stop worrying about it. You assumed that getting the answer you required would be quick and painless. "Mind Tools" is a registered trademark of Emerald Works Limited. Listen – I am sure that you might have heard this before “You have two ears and one mouth. Available here. If there is a genuine skills gap, suggest that she talks to her manager about training , and listen to his answer empathically For me, it’s because there is great value in social work. Eventually, her relationship with her friend all but disappeared and, after a few months, Cassie handed in her notice and left. Abiding by work ethics and maintaining confidentiality. Who’s going to support us when we develop serious health issues from stress? Subscribe before midnight, October 29 to download for free. By simply mentioning the fact that he or she appears to have a full plate, you open an invitation for your colleague to candidly talk about his or her stress. Emotionally, our needs … In a work environment, problems usually stem from one of three sources: Stress doesn't always develop from issues at work.     FREE 36-page Toolkit to help you beat stress and stay calm under pressure.   Never suppress your feelings. “Just be prepared that—if he or she asks for help—you’ll need to do your best to assist,” says Smith, “Otherwise, it will feel like an empty offer.”. “Stressed-out people are not necessarily terrifically mentally organized at that moment,” says Holly Weeks, Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, “They’re not talking efficiently.”. tools and resources that you'll find here at Mind Tools. © Emerald Works Limited 2020. . Health professionals should also be consulted before any major changes are made to diet or to exercise. Solutions, Privacy All rights reserved. It might even drive a wedge between you and your co-worker, if you're not careful. If you think that your co-worker's problem stems from home, be even more sensitive in how you approach him.   Support your colleagues through stress by offering a helping hand. Here are the 12 Incredible Ways to Handle Stressful Situations at Work and Avoid Stress 1. Subscribe before midnight, October 29 to download for free. , for tips on how to help people through stress more effectively if this happens. Up, Mind Tools Action is key, we have found, in tackling the permanent stresses such as high caseload and lack of desk space. And that this is normal. With that said, there are three ways you can help a stressed out coworker: 1.

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