As I’m writing this blog post, I have been recovering from a severe cold that struck out of the blue which set all of my projects back. Scurrying to get them all completed, while people had to talk me out of working on my continuously growing to-do list while being sick. My body will take twice as long to recover if I split up my body’s resources.
Often times, many stressed individuals gradually pile things in their pipeline without realizing the toll it would take on their health and their bodies. What are the signs and symptoms? Where can people find help?
- What are defining characteristics of stress at the workplace?
Job stress can be defined when expectations of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker which can lead to poor health or even injury. When job demands cannot be met, the employee will feel exhausted which can lead to illness or job failure. - What are common causes of workplace stress?
Often times, there are a lot of external factors contributing to a project manager’s stress levels such as unreasonable clients, large number of stakeholders, high levels of technical complexity, lack of expectations, challenging team members. - What are some symptoms of stress in individuals?
Symptoms of stress vary from person to person. They include sleep deprivation, depression, insomnia, fertility issues, tense muscles, burnout, heart racing, shallow breathing, heartburn, headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety, irritability, change in eating habits, substance abuse, social withdrawal, nausea - What are the implications of stress to those involved for the project and organization?
Scope creep of the project can cause missed deadlines, overdrawn budgets, unintentional health effects such as trouble relaxing of those involved. - Why is stress prevalent in the project management professional?
Project managers are often in the trenches with those who they are leading to better understand what they experience. There are times when the project changes requirements or deadlines while in the middle of development which can cause undue stress. There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to relying on the work that team members generate for the bigger cause. Unanticipated circumstances, such as a team member’s illness, can greatly affect the project manager’s capability of project completion. - What are some stress management/stress reduction initiatives aimed specifically at project managers.
In regards to project deliverables, a project manager can break up the workload into smaller manageable chunks to delegate to appropriate team members to help relieve stress of taking it on all by themselves.
Project managers can research lessons learned from similar initiatives or case studies in other companies as a reference point of what to do in their own projects. From that point, they can be more informed and certain about the projects they decide their team should undertake or decline. Project managers can also engage in exercise, yoga, meditation, or other wellness programs to maintain their health, breathe well and relax more to become more resilient to the challenges that stress will bring into their lives.
A growing number of tech companies offer extra perks such as free meals rides to work, create fun activities to engage in outside of work, such as trivia night or team sports, to minimize stress and build camaraderie. Listening to the needs of your staff and sharing one-on-one time with each of them to talk about any concerns or career direction can help immensely. - Contact info/links to external stress management experts and organizations that focus on stress reduction
24-hour Crisis Hotline: 740.369.3316 or 419.947.2520 or 1-800-684-2324.
Suicide Hotline: 800-784-2433
Immediate Medical Assistance: 911
Crisis Call Center: 800-273-8255 or text ANSWER to 839863
Crisis Text Line (U.S. only): Text HELLO to 741741
Youthspace Text Line (across Canada): Text 778-783-0177 from 6 p.m. to midnight daily.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Boys Town National Hotline: 1-800-448-3000
Teen Line: 1-310-855-HOPE (4673) or 1-800-TLC-TEEN (852-8336)
References:
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. (2014, June 6). CDC – NIOSH Publications and Products – STRESS…At Work (99-101). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-101/default.html
Mentalhelp.net. (n.d.). Anxiety Hotline Number. Retrieved from https://www.mentalhelp.net/anxiety/hotline/
Porter, J. (2015, November 16). How Google And Others Help Employees Burn Off Stress In Unique Ways. Retrieved from https://www.fastcompany.com/3053048/how-google-and-other-companies-help-employees-burn-off-stress-in-unique-ways
Watson, A. P. and S. (2018, September 29). The Effects of Stress on Your Body. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body#1
Fission PM 