As we head into the Christmas period, many of us will be relishing the opportunity for a break to recover at the end of a hectic year. Spending time with friends and family is often a great chance to relax and reflect on the year, though of course, it can often be as much a source of stress as a release from it.
The challenge of change
Balancing pressure and rest is an important challenge for communicators, managers and whole organisations to reduce employee stress, especially in periods of change. Change tends to put employees and organisations into a state of stress as colleagues navigate their way through the implications of new ways of working, new processes and new relationships.
It’s like riding a bike…
I’m currently studying for a coaching certificate from British Cycling, so I can support young riders at our local cycling club. It’s been an interesting opportunity to learn more about the balance between stress and rest, and the impact it has on our bodies and minds.
Stress and challenge are necessary to improve performance, whether you are a sports person or an employee. Change is necessary in order to progress, and stress is part of change. If we all just keep doing what is easily achievable, we don’t grow or realise the potential of new opportunities.
The science behind reducing employee stress
Constant stress, or too much stress, can be extremely damaging. Relentless change or disruption in the workplace is likely to inhibit performance rather than enhance it. Top sports coaches are always looking out for signs of overtraining, which can lead to burn out. Overstressing your body in training can lead to injuries or exhaustion.
Research has also shown that the impact of stress is just as serious on our minds as our bodies. When we work our minds to the point of fatigue, they are susceptible to reduced performance and damage in the same way as our bodies. Many coaches are now more aware of the mental health issues that can arise from too much pressure leading to unhealthy behaviours and burnout.
Finding the balance
The balance many high performers find is in establishing a cycle of stress and rest. Whilst stress challenges us and requires us to develop new skills or capability, it’s actually when we rest that the body and mind adapt to the new behaviours. When we rest, our bodies repair the muscles we’ve used and our minds make the new connections that embed new processes and ideas. Fitness comes from stress AND rest, not just from stress.
When organisations undergo change, whether it’s an office move, a restructure or a new process, they put employees in a state of stress – and that is something we need to manage so it feels achievable.
Without rest and reducing employee stress, however, we risk not giving employees the opportunity to really embed change, to forge the new connections, relationships or mental muscle needed to adapt to the new.
Looking ahead
So, when planning engagement for change programmes, consider:
- Have we allowed time for employees to reflect on the implications of change and adequately adapt to new ways of working?
- What can we do to help colleagues recover from moments of organisational stress so that they can re-energise?
- Are we over-pressuring teams with too much change or stress, risking burnout or reduced performance? What can we do to reduce employee stress, cut out the noise and focus colleagues on the things that really matter at that time so they are not overwhelmed?
Thankfully, rest is not something that needs to take a long time. Even a 20-minute walk around the office can significantly improve your energy levels and help a colleague reflect on a point of change. It’s also a handy technique for that moment when the turkey won’t cook, the batteries have already run out on a new favourite toy and Grandma has fallen asleep after one too many sherries!
So, hopefully you can find your moment of rest and reduce your stress during the Christmas break and return to work fit and ready to adapt to whatever the new year may throw at you.
Leave A Comment