It is very interesting when you ask employees how they are feeling in their jobs in the world of doing more with less, one word seems to dominate that feeling. Understandably, there is great pressure in our work lives these days. We struggle daily to keep our well Large Stack of Papersdefined work life balance as we strive to exceed company performance standards. Couple this with everyday life pressures makes it almost predictable that the answer to the question: “How’s work going?” will often be, “I’m overwhelmed!”

Retired, old school business people would proclaim that work is supposed to be hard, that is why we call it work. Thank goodness those people are retired and not adding to your daily stress. I am not arguing that your work should not be challenging, I am simply suggesting working in a culture of high standards is reasonable, working in an environment of panic is not.

In an article from Psychology Today April 2013, “How to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, Procrastination and Regret” Bill Knaus Ed.D. offers a scientific approach to address this feeling.  As I read the article it brought me back to a lecture I watched on PBS many years ago.  I apologize for not remembering the speaker’s name, and there is a strong chance I will misrepresent his message here, as my memory is getting so bad, I could plan my own surprise party. This is what I think I remember from his presentation.

Two things tend to dominate our thinking as we put our heads on our pillows at night, Anxiety and Regret.  The interesting thing about these two feelings is that both are impossible to resolve.  They are impossible to resolve because they reside in time.  Anxiety is all about the future and regret is all about the past.  As you lie in bed tossing and turning, try to remember that you can do absolutely nothing about either of these dominating thoughts.  So stop and simply plan for the present.

Managers can play such a vital role in alleviating unspoken stress with your employees. As all great companies proclaim that there people are their greatest assets, it becomes imperative that you observe and address subtle behaviours that demonstrate your people might be a little overwhelmed.

When delving a little deeper into employee’s sense of being overwhelmed, my experience has taught me that the root of the issue is in the answer to two questions: Where to start? and How can I help?

  1. Where to start?
    This simple question has the power to remove much of the uncertainty with staff as you share with confidence, what the priorities are, and direct where the energy of work should be focused. Clear Concept Inc.’s flagship program, Own Your Time, addresses the principles of Focus, Procrastination and Prioritization in much greater detail. Hundreds of employees across Canada have benefited from exposure to this well researched, transformative session.
  1. How can I help?
    Offering help is one of life’s little paradoxes. It is perceived as a sign of weakness, when in reality, it is shown to be a sign of strength. Employees and managers have a role in addressing this sense of being overwhelmed. Employees intuitively know they cannot do everything without assistance and support. Managers know that beyond analyzing company metrics, their prime responsibility is to help employees succeed. It’s funny how just helping others can drive unpredicted results.

Overwhelmed? You are not alone. Share that feeling with your manager and just watch how the feeling slowly disappears.