Katrina Shanks writes about how to reduce work stress and improve productivity

With recent research finding that employees are stressed and under pressure to work beyond their regular hours, Katrina Shanks has some advice for managers around reducing stress in the workplace and improving productivity.

First up, you need to recognise stress when it happens.

Common signs include unexplained fatigue, headaches, stomach upsets, difficulty sleeping, being moody and irritable, being angry or panicking in situations that normally wouldn’t bother you, avoiding other people.

Shanks suggests four ways for managers to reduce their stress:

• Take regular breaks – taking a time-out – have a coffee, go for a walk around the building - can mean you return refreshed and ready to be productive.

• Delegate – trust your staff and have them share the workload.

• Upskill your staff – when you know they have the skills to do more on their own there’s less need for you to step in.

• Provide clear guidance – help keep employees informed and engaged by ensuring organisational priorities and changes are clear.

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