You may think it’s not your job, but savvy business owners recognize that helping employees reduce stress is a top priority. If you work with your family, it is more important than ever to create a positive work environment. The good news is there are many positive changes you can make to create a work environment that reduces the stress you and your employees feel.
How can you help reduce the stress felt by your employees? Consider these six ideas:
- Set a good example. Just as children imitate the example of their parents, so too do employees imitate the example of their boss. Demonstrate what work-life balance looks like. Take time for your family and your wellbeing. Avoid negative attitudes. If you establish a culture of balance and reasonableness at the office, your employees will follow suit and stress levels will go down.
- Help them find balance. Even if your employees see you taking time for yourself and trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance, they could struggle to achieve the same thing in their own life. So empower them with information about the benefits of staying healthy through exercise and good eating habits, and the importance of taking breaks. You may even want to create company policies that encourage health and wellbeing.
- Communicate openly. Be clear and open with everyone involved in the family business. Create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions and making suggestions. Let each person know what is expected of them and how they can gauge their success. Stress is reduced when people feel heard and informed.
- Don’t be afraid of confrontation. In family firms, conflicts often get buried instead of being resolved. However, avoiding conflict can lead to serious problems. Issues can fester, and progress isn’t made. In order to get to the bottom of conflicts and move forward, you must respectfully and firmly confront the issue. Acknowledge that you may or may not be right, but insist that the family talk things out. Keep talking until you find a mutually agreeable solution.
- Create a pleasant work environment. Your employees will do their best work when their environment is free of clutter and full of life. Get to work organizing, filing, and putting things away. Encourage laughter, teamwork, and bonding. Bring in some art and plants. Plants purify the air, reduce blood pressure, and promote positive energy.
- Express appreciation. It is a good practice to daily look for opportunities to tell each person how much you appreciate them. Employees need to hear commendation. And if they hear you offering commendation, they will be more likely to express appreciation for the help their colleagues give them as well.
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I’ve been in recovery for over 2 years 3 months + now I work in in a little family owned restaurant. And I been in the restaurant bezz for 20 years but this is all new to me being clean and sober. I always put my heart and soul into my job and at my interview I layed it out about my recovery and that I was serious about staying clean and sober. So a was assured by the owner it was a drug free atmosphere no worries and I have a head injury that’s been given me headache and Migraines. So around 3 weeks in I was finding dope= drugs in bathroom floor and in places on employee would be . I talked with owner about it and myself being a recovering addicted also I know the signs and moody and mood swings. How people go off for no reason. And yes simple solution would be find another job.. but it’s the principal and the accountability and word maid and what it’s done to me mentally any advice… they have no rules up .. no hand book .. no prep sheets .. nothing.. but not picking on me for food cost .. date dots .. over prep … but the Drug addicts can go out back get high come in smelling like marijuana.. Alcohol. . Come in late They are making it stressful..!!!!
I am so sorry Josh that you have to deal with this. Getting clean and sober is a lot of work. Good for you. Helping others make the same commitment is not easy. I would talk with your sponsor about what to do next. Don’t risk your own sobriety on ignorant people.