STRESS!

This word is slowly becoming associated with office work and the phenomenon is global. It does not matter whether you are in a small company, a mid-sized company, a large multinational or a government organization. Cut throat competition, global economic meltdowns, inflation, recession, job cuts, pink slips, the world of work is becoming synonymous with stress.

Coupled with the outside forces, you have no dearth of stress-creating factors inside the office as well. Pressing deadlines, stiff targets, office politics, mood swings of co-workers, one-upmanship, grumpy boss…apart from personal doubts, fears and worries – all add up to creating pressure on the mind and body. As a result, we continue to witness a growing incidence of work related health disorders such as heart ailments, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cervical spondylosis and so on.

Reducing work stress – a big challenge

Minimizing job stress is thus one of the bigger challenges a CEO faces. The CEO has a big role to play in creating an office environment that thrives in a healthy work atmosphere. Here are a few tips for CEOs to create such a positive environment:

1. Simple, clean office interiors – You don’t need to have plush, expensive office interiors that cost a lot of money. For a small business, having a clean, business like, user-friendly office ambience is enough to motivate your employees.

Make sure the work stations are clean and appealing with enough leg room and adequate space on the sides. Congested, disorganized work stations are big dampers.

2. Keep your office clutter free – Stacks of pending files, rows of filing cabinets topped with disorganized folders, boxes and cartons of inventory dumped in the corners can pull down the employees’ mood and productivity levels.

Lead by example by keeping your own cabin clean and make sure your employees develop the self discipline to keep their own work stations organized and clutter free. Similarly, keep a personal eye on the shop floor workforce to ensure that the production areas remain clean and organized.

3. Do up the walls - You can do up the walls by placing some nice paintings or framed motivational quotes. Set up a pin board and encourage your employees to pin up interesting clippings. It is a good way of encouraging employee interaction. Use colors on the walls that are positive and energetic.

4. Encourage stress breaker programs – Hosting lunch-break programs on communication skills, time management and stress management are a proven way of breaking long stressful work hours and preventing burnouts.

The lunch-time workshops, if handled in a planned, methodical manner within a specified time limit are great tools for helping employees get some relief from the pressures of looming deadlines and urgent deliveries.

5. Some surprise treats - You can sometimes order a lunch for the employees or a round of snacks. These simple yet pleasant gestures go a long way in boosting employee morale.

6. Stress breaking and brainstorming sessions for CEOs - Just as the lunch-time workshops help in keeping the workforce healthy and in good temper, the CEOs too need their own workshops where they can be honest and upfront about their problems and receive practical, tested solutions from their peers.

CEO peer groups, CEO clubs and CEO associations often host executive coaching sessions or CEO conferences for business leaders, chief executive officers, presidents and entrepreneurs. These half-day sessions followed by lunch are a great way of helping CEOs network with fellow CEOs, discuss their problems and plans and receive matter-of-fact, useful solutions and advice.