Recognizing and Managing Stress in a Work Environment

There’s a huge difference between a workplace that is mildly aggravating from one that is extremely toxic that you want to leave it for good. A toxic work environment can rob you of your self-worth and sooner or later could lead to more serious problems. That dissatisfaction may carry over into your health and personal life, damaging everything from your self-esteem to your relationships.
This kind of work-related stress can be experienced even in a work-from-home setting, too. The VA Hub believes that a positive work environment makes employees feel good about coming to work, and this provides the motivation to sustain them throughout the day. To give us more insight about the difference we are making, we interviewed one of The VA Hub’s most excellent VAs, Irene Do. She is a Business Associate, responsible for identifying and helping develop strategic relationships with partners or potential TVH clients.
It is important to recognize the signs to avoid unnecessary exhaustion and to keep a healthy and balanced lifestyle. We highlighted the top signs you might be verging towards unbearable work stress.
 

1. Task-related stresses goes on for too long

 
Task-related stresses in a workplace are productive as they can produce healthy conversations and improve team member’s problem solving skills, thus often resulting to better business outcomes.
“My work is really challenging and it is never easy. The constant annoyed clients we get from time to time, coupled with others who sometimes say mean things to us, without even realizing the big benefit they can get from the call or just by talking to us.” Irene shares.
However, when task-related pressures go on for too long unresolved, even a healthy challenge can lead to more severe conflicts. Toxic workplaces are filled with different kinds of conflicts, but it can all start with the simple abandonment of ethics and shared goals between co-workers. To avoid this, resolve issues quickly and try to see the situation from a more positive light.
“[However], I take each challenge as a positive thing, for challenges help me realize my potential and even improve on it. These challenges also improve my flexibility in dealing with other people and my ability to take each negative response as an opportunity to probe more so I can give value to the person I’m speaking with.”
 

2. Your managers never give out commendations and incentives

 
When you feel sick on Sunday night before starting work on Monday, or if you consistently feel anxious about work when you are not there, you may be in a toxic workplace. Employees feel letdown because their leaders fail to offer praise or reward for a job well done. This results in people just doing the bare minimum to dodge being blamed for failure.
You may think that incentives for employees are just a cherry on top of the cake and can be discarded, but that would be a mistake. Rewarding your employees is an essential component of creating, developing and maintaining a world-class team. With just a bit of creative thinking and planning, you’ll have a carrot that everyone will want to bite! While raises and promotions are a good option, employees really appreciate time off, wellness incentives, educational opportunities, and, for smaller achievements, things such as gift cards.
It doesn’t have to be in monetary or material form! “TVH team doesn’t forget to recognize a job well done and appraise a good performance.” We asked Irene if she feels rewarded for her dedication and commitment towards her work. “Yes, always. They never fail to motivate and make our working environment a fun and enjoyable place to work with.”

3. Your voice is not considered in the decision-making process

 
Without shared management, employees often lose meaning in their work and engagement decreases. This mentality takes the spirit and joy out of work. In a toxic work environment, those who disagree with team leaders sometimes pay for speaking their minds and are chastised for not being team players.
This is why at The VA Hub, we make sure that all of our employees are heard and appreciated. “They extend more than encouragement. They always see to it that our concerns are heard and our opinions valued. They go beyond their time to coach us one on one and have team meetings to make sure that we are properly taken care of.”
 

4. Your seniors do not believe in you and your capabilities

 
“I started with the help of my previous trainer, Ms. Mika, who previously taught me not to give up when things seem unattainable and unbearable. She believed in me and endorsed me to be part of this great company. I will always be grateful for her and for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the growth of this company.”
Our culture of family, empowerment and belongingness lead us to believe that there are no bad employees, there are only bad fits (to their role). We have to find the role that matches our employee’s talent and once that is done, you can sit back and watch people take charge of their career and deliver spectacular results.
If your current company makes you feel insignificant, then you might want to consider making a career change.
 

5. There is no trust within the company

 
If you feel like important facts or huge changes about the company are not being disclosed to you, you are most likely in a very toxic work environment. Trust is more powerful than power and it is absolutely vital for the employee-employer relationships that generates business and builds resilient companies. Studies prove that “building an enduring trust is rooted in facts, in truth-telling and in delivering on promises; and it flows naturally from a lifetime of promises kept. Because we trust those who say what they intend to do and who work hard at doing what they say, if you would be trusted, be intentional and disciplined and do what you say you’ll do.”
Building trust within an organization starts with the integrity of its leaders because it does not develop where respect is low. This essentially means listening without a hidden agenda and empowering people to do their best and not simply keeping them from doing their worst.
 
Now that you understand exactly how it gains a foothold in your life. Here’s how to neutralize the symptoms of work-induced stress:
 

• Learn to rechannel its energy-draining power.
• If you remain passive, thinking, ‘I can’t do anything about my problem’, your stress will get worse. That feeling of loss of control is one of the main causes of stress and lack of wellbeing.
• Learn how to set up impenetrable defenses against advancing stressors.
• Discover the value of “support system” and how it counteracts stress.
• Establish stress-free relationships.
• Know when to call “time out” – and how to use it when you get it.

 
When employees fulfill their various needs and goals in life, such as those of family, friends, spiritual pursuits, self-growth, etc, they can then feel more confident about themselves and perform their best at work.
Stress is an inevitable part of life but can of course be manageable. In today’s demanding workplace, responding appropriately and effectively in stress-charged situations is nothing short of an absolute survival skill. Make sure you don’t fall short when it counts the most – when the pressure’s on full steam!
 
Please share your thoughts in the comments and how you battle work-stress and why you think it is important to manage it.
 

 
 
Irene is a highly motivated TVH employee with a positive attitude towards life. She has experience in Digital Marketing, Business and Product development, and back-end processes management.
We can introduce you to a VA who shares the same skills, work ethics and business mindset.

Call us now at 1-888-923-9323

Email us at businessadvisors@thevahub.com