How to handle anxiety and stress in the workplaceÂ

How to handle anxiety and stress in the workplaceThe world of work offers many challenges. We get to learn more about ur passions and interests, as well as our strengths and areas for improvement, and it gives us opportunities to mature as we take on new responsibilities, gain professional satisfaction, and chart a course for our lifelong career journeysall key factors in leading a happy and fulfilling life. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Howevertheres a flipside to the work coin, which includes the reality that work is not always fun and easy. In fact, for most of us, our work lives can be a serious and persistent source of anxiety and stress, and its no small matter It can affect all facets of our livesnot just our time spent at workand can have lasting effects on our physical and mental well-being.The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) recently conducted a survey regarding workplace stress and anxiety. Among their k ey findingsEmployees say stress and anxiety most often impacts their workplace performance (56 percent),relationship with coworkers and peers (51 percent),quality of work (50 percent), and relationships with superiors (43 percent).More than three-fourths who say stress interferes with their work say it carries over to their personal life, particularly men (83 percent vs. 72 percent for women).7 in 10 adults report that workplace stress affects their personal relationships, mainly with their spouses. Men (79 percent) report it affecting personal relationships more than women (61 percent).The main culprits of work-related stress are deadlines (55 percent),interpersonal relationships (53 percent),staff management (50 percent), anddealing with issues/problems that arise (49 percent).Does this sound familiar? If so, and youre experiencing anxiety and stress resulting from work, youre not aloneand you dont have to suffer through it with no end in sight.Be honest about itWhen some of us fe el the weight of workplace stress and anxiety, our first impulse may be to write it off as something else. We analyze the symptomseverything from lethargy to sleeplessness to irritability and changes in mood and behaviorand make excuses. We say that were just tired, or were just feeling sick, or even that its due to the weather. Basically, we do anything but acknowledge that our stress has a direct and obvious sourceour jobs. We also try to rationalize that its only temporary, and that things will get better after this project or this busy period, even though it often never does. The truth is, these attempts to rationalize and explain away our work stress and anxiety only serves one purposeto prolong it and avoid confronting it. The first step in handling workplace anxiety and stress is to be honest about it. This empowering move will help you begin to deal with it effectively.Diagnose the problem(s)Workplace stress and anxiety is similar to other problems in life in that you need t o fully understand the issues contributing to the situation before you can turn the tide and overcome it. When youre feeling the effects of work stress and anxiety, take a step back from things and give yourself the time to fully understand each and every individual source and symptom that is affecting your life. Often, a one size fits all solution to your workplace anxiety is ineffective when there are multiple sources at play. Once you see all of the sources clearly, you can start thinking about effective individual solutions for each. Often, just understanding the problems can alleviate some of the strain and propel you on the path to improvement.Get helpLike other issues involving our jobs, were rarely completely alone in having to deal with stress and anxiety. Help is availablewhether or not you choose to ask for it and accept it is your call. Depending on the issues that are contributing to your stress and anxiety and your specific workplace dynamic, you may benefit from takin g the direct approachbe open with colleagues or bosses regarding the issues in an attempt to come up with effective solutions. Also, dont forget that friends, family, and peers can be great sources of help and guidance hereespecially if theyve gone through similar situations. Also, dont count out seeking the help of a professional. Many workplaces offer help through counseling and guidance services (both in-house and/or outside), and you always have the vorkaufsrecht of hiring a professional for help, the cost of which may be covered by your insurance plan. The bottom line is that youre not alone here, and seeking help to deal with difficult issues isnt shameful or embarrassingits smart strategic thinkingFind outletsWhile there are times we can effectively tackle and reduce our workplace stress and anxiety by confronting it head-on, the truth is, sometimes it isnt quite so easy. Simply put, some of us just have to accept that its a facet of our jobs. However, what we do have control over is how we spend our time outside of work, and making time for activities that help us offset the negative impact of our work is always a good idea. Get involved in things you enjoy doing in an effort to alleviate workplace stress and anxietyfinding a fulfilling life outside of work is very often the key to finding happiness within it.

How 1 Man Helped His Company to Hire 600 People with Disabilities in a Year

How 1 Man Helped His Company to Hire 600 People with Disabilities in a Year In the age of the MeToo movement, when companies and their leaders are under more scrutiny than ever before, conversations about diversity and inclusion in the workplace have also become increasingly common. And from those conversations, there seems to be a common takeaway diversity and inclusion are not merely nice to have or good for a companys reputation they also add value from a business perspective.At AppNexus annual Womens Leadership Forum, held in New York City, business leaders discussed just that. Experts across a range of industries came together not only to speak about why inclusion is beneficial, but also to share concrete strategies for creating workplaces that are supportive of all people. Among the speakers welches JPMorgan Chase Managing Director Jim Sinocchi, who heads the companys Office of Disability Inclusion. During a conversation with AppNexus Senior Director of Product Line Management Lindsay Van Kirk, Sinocchi told the crowd why he was brought on to lead JPMorgans effort to hire more people with disabilities. While the company had been making waves in its effort to hire more racially diverse candidates,it wanted to bring on more people with disabilities.Sinocchi who, nearly 40 years ago,brokehis neck while body surfing is fully cognizant of the issues faced by people with disabilities. Hes made it his mission to educate business leaders, as well as his colleagues, and to shift common, misguided attitudes. Many of you are tentative about people with disabilities, he said to the audience. Whether you admit it or not, you ask yourself things like, Will I say the wrong thing? Will I be politically incorrect?Sinocchi emphasized that people with disabilities simply want to be spoken to and treated like everyone else. When I talktopeople, I dont talk about my disability. I talk about the saatkorn things you talk about. (This sentiment was echoed later in the confere nce when Ila Eckhoff, a Managing Director at Black Rock, told the audience that if you ask Siri how to start a conversation with someone who has a disability, shell respond, Its easy Just say hi.)In just the past year, Sinocchis office has helped to hire 600 people with some sort of disability. He teaches his colleagues to try to shed their unconscious bias when an interviewer learns of a candidates disability during an in-person interview, that means that on paper, the candidate showed promise. I tell managers, these candidates have 80% of what you need. Thats why theyre here interviewing. Why do you doubt their abilities?