8 Ways to Cut Employee Stress and Improve Productivity

No matter what kind of business you run, ensuring your employees are happy, comfortable, and confident in their roles is important. When you set projects and tasks, it’s only natural that stress levels will rise, so as the head of a company, it’s your responsibility to motivate your team, helping to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently. With that in mind, here are 8 ways to cut employee stress and improve productivity in the workplace.

Encourage Workplace Wellness

To combat workplace stress, the best measures that you and your team can take is incorporating regular exercise into the weekly routine, as well as following a balanced diet. Keeping fit and active can take employees’ minds off the stress and worries of their jobs. Exercise is known to improve moods by releasing endorphins, which help individuals feel happier. There are various strategies that you can take in the workplace, such as encouraging your team to go on a walk during their lunch break and providing healthy snacks in the office.

Revamp the Workplace

A lot of stress tends to come from the workplace environment, so it’s important that you take time to examine your office space to help you work out what measures you can take to help lift spirits. Whether it’s simple changes like improving the quality of the coffee or adding plants around the office which can bring many health benefits, small changes can make a big impact on employee productivity.

If you have enough space, you may want to consider purchasing a ping pong or a foosball table which gives employees the opportunity to take their mind off their stress for a couple of minutes.

Allow for Flexible Hours and Remote Working

The last thing you want is to create an office that feels like a prison cell for employees. After all, you hired your team because you were confident in their ability to perform their jobs well, so looking after your team and giving them the option to work remotely can be great for office morale.

Reduce Distractions

With billions of users logging into social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram every day, as a business owner, you will know only too well how much of a nuisance and distraction they can be. If you’ve noticed a decrease in productivity levels, it may be because your team is scrolling through their feed rather than focusing on work. While it’s not advisable to put a cell phone ban in place, you should instead encourage your team to take breaks, which they can use to do as they please.

Communication is Key

As a business owner, being on the lookout for any changes in your employees’ work is important. To keep your company running successfully, you need to know how to communicate effectively with your workforce. No matter the project or task, if communication lines become blurred, your team may lose focus. Stress levels can rise intense environments, so make sure that you’re on hand to provide motivation and guidance. Doing so will not only keep your team happy but decrease staff turnover too.

Recognize Your Employees

If your employees aren’t happy in their role, the chances are they will go elsewhere for employment. As the head of a company, it’s important that you show respect and appreciation for your team’s hard work, as without them, it’s likely that your business will fall at the first hurdle. There are several things that you can do, such as providing incentives that recognize your employees’ achievements. You may also organize an online therapy session for your employees on BetterHelp once in a while to revamp their mental health. Showing that you care and value what your team does can go a long way and help improve productivity.

Set Realistic Targets

When working on a task, employees need to know where they stand, so if you’re setting unrealistic targets, it’s only natural that your staff will feel anxious and under pressure to go above and beyond their call of duty. Goals need to be attainable, so rather than having employees work in a strained environment, you need to remember that your team members are only human and can only do so much.

Hold Regular Meetings

Whether it’s one-on-one, or as a group, regular meetings can be a great way to know more about your employees, identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as nip any problems in the bud from the get-go. High stress levels can make employees feel uneasy and anxious, so setting aside time to speak to your team on a personal level can help them feel more confident in their abilities.

For your business to thrive, you need to have employees who believe in your company and who are in the right frame of mind to perform their duties successfully. Using all the tips provided above can help cut employee stress and improve efficiency and productivity.