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The multiple pressures of targets, economic uncertainty, poor morale and increased workload are taking their toll on team managers in every sector.
 Use these Top 10 Tips to alleviate the pressure, take control and build team confidence:
Be aware of your own stress triggers. What people, language and situations bring out the worst in you, and how does this affect the people around you? Watch your team and spot their signals, everyone’s stress triggers are different, so you’ll need to be alert and sympathetic. Ensure that you have the right person in the right job, working to their strengths and rising to the challenge. They will work harder and more consistently than someone who lacks the strength and aptitude for the task. When you see pressure within the team starting to impact on performance and team relationships, call a time-out. This can be as brief as a tea break, a walk in the park, a 5-minute quiz or ice-breaker. Most teams can cope with a short-term burst of effort for a particular purpose. The damage is done when this pressure is relentless, leaving no room for breathing space, reflection or the tying up of loose ends. Manage the workloads into discrete periods of hard work, balanced with phases for planning, evaluation and problem-solving. Observe your team’s response to pressure. There will be good and bad outcomes which will impact on performance, relationships and customer service. Be aware of your team’s critical tipping point. Be confident, consistent and patient. Most stress triggers come from uncertainty and lack of direction, so be the figurehead of your team, oozing calm and working to a plan. Decide what is negotiable during times of sustained pressure. If your team is failing to meet targets and struggling with workload, do what you can to manage deadlines, finances and resources. Before the start of a high-pressure project, get the team together to discuss the work ahead, agree responsibilities and commit to team success. Celebrate success. At the end of a project or when you can spot a gap in workload, find a way to say “well done” and “thank you”. It’s the best motivator there is, and will ensure commitment next time the pressure is on.
Individuals and teams respond differently to stress, with profound impacts on their performance and relationships with others. It pays to know what your team is capable of, to find ways of raising productivity without damaging the team, and to develop a team that relishes a challenge and celebrates success. Talk to Reflection Consulting about a Teamwork MOT, management workshops and support. Call us today on 01509 416 936 |
Top 10 Tips