In a world of tight deadlines, it’s no wonder that some of your stress might seep out and affect your colleagues. But — because they’re under pressures of their own — you risk perpetuating a vicious circle, where you mirror and magnify each other’s frenzy.
3 Small Things Every Person Can Do to Reduce Stress in Their Office
When we’re stressed out, thanks to the mirror neurons that connect humans to one another emotionally, that feeling often spreads. It’s inevitable in a fast-paced workplace that some stress will be shared. But in order to create a better work environment, we need to take steps to contain this leakage as much as possible. Start by limiting vague emails. If someone doesn’t know the full context of a situation, they can be are often read like a Rorschach test, with fears and interpretations piled on. Second, triage your responses. Even if you’re heads down and have sworn off email for days to accomplish a priority mission, spend at least 15 minutes a day tagging the most important, time-sensitive messages that have come in, so that you can respond appropriately. And finally, stop watching the kettle boil. Just as it’s damaging to let your colleagues languish without your necessary input, it’s just as bad to monitor them relentlessly.