Managing Pressures and Stress

Research demonstrates that stress is a serious problem in the United States. In a recent Gallup poll, ninety percent of the population said they experienced stress at work on a daily basis! One way to alleviate your stress at work is by improving your interpersonal relationships with co-workers, clients, and supervisors. Here are some tips for reducing interpersonal conflict and stress at work.

• When conflict occurs, never lose it. No matter what happens, control your anger as the goal of criticism should be to solve problem and work toward change.
• Avoid labeling and over-loading problems. Labeling involves telling someone that they are always late, messy or lazy, when they should be told that a specific behavior needs improvement (i.e., an employee was late on Thursday AM). Over-loading is discussing many grievances together in one conversation. It’s more productive to discuss one problem at a time.
  
• Practice active listening at all costs. You should focus on a speaker, never interrupt, provide feedback, and avoid rushing to judgment of someone or some idea.
• Recognize that interpersonal conflicts take up more time and energy than harmonious interactions. Try to begin each day with humor, patience, and objectivity. Take your responsibilities seriously, but not yourself. Never talk about anyone behind their back, and try to develop rapport with everyone you come in contact with.

For more strategies and tips on business communication, review our Online Courses and On-Site Training or send Judith an Inquiry E-Mail.