In our previous article, we explored what stress bragging is and how it negatively impacts business team members, the business, and personal relationships. Stress bragging can lead to a toxic work culture, decreased productivity, poor team cohesion, and strained personal relationships. Now, let’s focus on how business leaders can combat this troublesome behavior and encourage a more balanced, healthy workplace.
Strategies to End Stress Bragging
- Lead by Example: As a leader, your behaviour sets the tone for the organization. Prioritize work-life balance and stress management for yourself. Show your team that it’s possible to achieve success without sacrificing health and well-being.
- Promote a Balanced Culture: Encourage employees to take regular breaks, use their vacation days, and set boundaries between work and personal life. Reinforce the message that their worth isn’t tied to how much they work, but rather to the quality of their contributions.
- Encourage Open Communication: Create a supportive environment where employees feel safe discussing their stress levels and workload. Have regular check-ins to ensure that team members aren’t overwhelmed and feel comfortable voicing concerns.
- Recognize and Reward Balance: Start recognizing and rewarding employees who make an effort to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This could include public acknowledgments, incentives, or even implementing a “Employee of the Month” program that highlights well-rounded team members.
- Offer Stress and Time-Management Programs: Provide resources and programs that help employees manage stress. This could include workshops on time management, access to counselling services, or in-office yoga and meditation sessions.
- Set Realistic Goals and Expectations: Ensure that your team’s goals and expectations are realistic and achievable within reasonable working hours. Overburdening your team is a sure path to stress and burnout.
- Normalize Self-Care: Normalize taking breaks and prioritizing mental health. Share articles, books, and resources that emphasize the importance of self-care and demonstrate that taking time for oneself is a strength, not a weakness.
Stress bragging may seem like a way to showcase dedication, but its negative impacts far outweigh any perceived benefits. Business leaders can foster a more supportive, balanced, and productive workplace environment by taking proactive steps to discourage this behaviour.
