Is Workplace Change a Stress Trigger for You?

If so, you’re not alone! When surveyed, most workers cite change as one of their top five stress triggers, with many placing change right at the very top of their lists. When technology innovation took what had once been a weekly reporting process for me into a daily, real-time process, my stress was triggered daily and in real-time! Of course, change is here to stay in our workplaces, leaving us all vulnerable to stress on a regular basis. The next time a workplace change has triggered your flight or fight response, try one of these change management stress-busters:

• 1. Focus on Facts

In one sentence of 18 words or less describe the change that is taking place. When you limit yourself to one sentence, there will not be room for emotion…. just the facts. Once you can focus on what is changing without experiencing an emotional reaction, you will find your stress level diminishing.

• 2. What’s the Same

Keeping with the old adage, “The more things change, the more they stay the same”, make a list of at least five things about your daily work flow that will not be changing. Focus on what is NOT changing makes dealing with change easier.

• 3. Set Incentives

Reward yourself or your team! During a corporate reorganization, I rewarded my team’s initiative and perseverance each week with themed rewards. For instance, during “See the Big Picture” week, rewards included popcorn and movie theater candy, and Friday afternoon’s “Academy Awards” featured winners in categories such as “Best Adaptor” and “Best Problem Solver”.

• 4. List Improvements

Maybe this change won’t be so bad. Make a list of at least five things in your daily work flow that will improve as the result of this change. Focus on the positive impacts of change to re-orient your thought process.

• 5. Become Proactive to Change

Make an appointment with yourself once a quarter to spend some time reading newsletters and blogs that pertain to what you or your organization does. If you stay informed about what is happening in your industry, the next change may not come as a shock.

If an organization is not innovating, it is dying. Yet, as necessary as change is for survival in today’s fast-paced world, it can be an added stress trigger in our already hectic lives. Many a coach has encouraged a team by reminding the players that the best offense is a good defense. Use these five stress-eliminating strategies to manage change and play some great defense.