STRESS AT WORK PLACE

My friend’s son working as a middle level executive in a multi national company comes home thoroughly exhausted. This is a daily phenomenon. He also missed a few good placement/promotional opportunities in his company.

His is not the lone case. Talk to any working couple. They complain that they strain a lot at their respective offices and by the time they reach home, they are completely worn out. They feel helpless as they are unable to take care of their children and parents. Occasionally, it results in misunderstanding and allegations of non cooperation against one another in the family. Why it is so?

Lack of role clarity, not catching up with the changes in the organisation, confused priorities,
lack of communication skills and lack of skills in work-life balancing are found to be some of the causes for the stress.

By following a few techniques, one can make ones work place and home pleasant.

Know thy role. Corporates generally define roles of their staff. Manuals of role charts are found gathering dust in cup boards. Of late these compendiums are also found in desk tops. Terms of appointment/offer letters often contain role expectations. Orientation sessions held by the HR departments of the respective corporates also include presentations on the role designs.

When so many avenues are available for understanding ones role, where is the gap?

Manuals, role charters, orientation sessions etc definitely help you in placing you in the role.
But to stand out in the role, mere understanding of the role is not enough. One has to experience ones role. So you have to go through all available material on your role. Discuss with your seniors, team members and your boss on the role expectations.
Be aware that your role is not static; it is dynamic; it changes with the change in leadership; it changes with a change in the corporate direction. To acquaint with such changes, open your eyes and ears. Listen to your boss, your top management, and your senior colleagues .Your company web cite, corporate communiqués, review meets are certain resources.
Role clarity contributes a lot in moulding your personality. It encourages you to learn the skills/techniques which help you perform better so that the productivity of the company would improve significantly.

Begin your day with listing out priorities. Work on the day’s priorities. Align the day’s priorities with your role; Align the day’s priorities with those of your boss ; Align the priorities with those of your team.

List out all the "works to do". Classify the job into: Urgent; Critical; Not so urgent; Not critical.

Place them in the following format:

Urgent Not so urgent
Critical Not critical



By now, you know what works are to be taken up first. Rank them in the following order.
“Urgent and critical” are the ones which deserve your immediate attention followed by “urgent but not so critical”; “critical but not so urgent” and “not so urgent & not critical” in the order stated . Again you also classify the works into: works which can be delegated; To be done by self alone; Support needed , and Time estimated to finish each task.

Having classified, you may discuss the job list with your team and refine the job list. Also seek the help of your boss to finalise the order of the priorities.
This process generates cooperation, help and support coming forth from your team mates and your boss. Your morale would be high for it is your initiative which is driving the tasks. Since the process has acceptance, you will have very smooth sailing as everyone is clear. This gives you a lot of satisfaction. The process also helps in building inter personal relation ships.

Communication: Communication is very important. Most people believe that if they carry the tasks assigned, it is enough. No! It is not enough. Because your interpretation of the assigned task may not match with the expectations of the company. As such, while undertaking a task during the process and when it is finished, you should be in touch with the boss. It enhances your understanding of the task. Si once a policy is put in place; it is your job to implement.
Similarly you should track your support team. Communication does not mean exchange of mails. Mails do help. More than mails one to one meeting, active participation in work shops, purpose focussed tele talk are important.

Celebrate: This is important .When a certain task is finished, a goal is achieved, have a feeling of accomplishment. Celebrate the occasion. Call your team members. Openly acknowledge their contribution for the success over a cup of coffee .Share your happiness with your boss.

Ethics. Never try to cut corners. Do not surrender to short term gains at the cost of the pronounced corporate policies .Do not mortgage professional honesty for temporary honours.

When a junior team mate comes up with an idea which has resulted in success give him due recognition.
Always debate/offer suggestions to the top management up till a policy is formulated. Incase your suggestions are not accepted ,you should not brood over the same. Understand that managements never ignore a good suggestion/a process change/a marketing idea unless it is found not feasible. When the policy is in place, implement the same with full commitment.


Work Life balance: This is not the least of the advices.
You are working for your family. During the day and again when you are about to leave your work place talk to your spouse/ parents/ children who are all waiting for you to return home
Recollect whether any promises like getting some medicines, picking up children from school/dance class were made to them. you must meet those commitments.
Plan your holidays; week ends; involve your family members in such planning. Do not forget to celebrate birth days, marriage days etc.

I am sure by following these few suggestions, you will start a new life.