If you read any newspaper or listen to TV or radio, there is constant reminder of the stress our economy is experiencing. There is no doubt that this pressure is shaking employees across the nation and world. As the holidays approach, employees will also face the traditional stressors of family events, gift buying, office functions, and overall additionally hectic schedules.
As reported through NIOSH, more than 25 percent of workers feel significant stress at work, and often feel “burned out” in the workplace (Yale University). In the same report, one-fourth of employees viewed their jobs as a significant stressor in their lives (Northwestern National Life).
It is clear that during this time of year and especially under the current stressful economic conditions, there are important leadership principles to keep in mind. In this article, we want to emphasize one of those principles: the skill of inquiry.
Inquiry is a skill that can be used immediately and refined over time. We will highlight three main areas of inquiry which will help you lead during stressful times.
First, inquiry begins with the ability of the leader to value people in the organization as whole people, instead of just valuing them for the job they do. People respond and perform when they know they are cared about.
Second, inquiry involves active listening skills. This means being present in the moment – setting aside your other cares and thoughts to listen to the speaker. Active listening means that we are not thinking about what to say next. Active listeners pay attention to the words being said, as well as the body language and tone being conveyed.
Finally, inquiry involves setting aside judgment of what is being said. It involves the ability to understand what others are thinking and feeling from their perspective. This is a bigger challenge than most of us realize at first glance. Often, people filter the other person’s communication through their own experiences. The filter can easily distort the true meaning being conveyed.
So, how do we apply this skill to the holiday season, especially in light of the economic concerns your employees are likely feeling? Here are some specific tips:
1. Connect on a personal level – check in with your employees over the course of the next 6 weeks. Ask them about their plans for the holidays.
2. Take a pulse of the emotional state of your employees. Actively listen for signs of joy, hesitation or stress.
3. Stay focused on what your employee is sharing with you. Keep the spotlight on them. Consider refraining from sharing your own story unless they ask or it seems right.
4. If you sense stress or concern, give purposeful thought to how you can encourage and support employees. This usually does not mean reducing expectations for year- end deliverables. It does entail helping to find solutions that work. Employees appreciate support and encouragement, especially during these stressful times . Listening and caring are often enough to get them refocused . Beyond that, get creative in finding additional ways to diminish the stress they are likely facing. You might also suggest utilization of your company’s employee assistance program to help talk through solutions for reducing stress.
At the 2008 ASTD San Diego Conference this month, Bob Nelson, one of the world’s leading authorities on employee motivation, spoke about the importance of creating an emotional bank account with employees. Creating an emotional bank account means that you deposit positive experiences as a leader with your employees. The more deposits you make into that account, the more stable your relationship and the more opportunity you have to influence that employee for both their good and the goals of the organization. Putting the skill of inquiry to work for you in small ways over the holidays will pay dividends including decreased stress, more cohesive work relationships, and long-term good will.
Diane Brown of Talent Journey November 2008 copywrite
