A few years ago, my 10-year-old niece had travelled to South Africa with her school to
play basketball. When we picked her up from the airport, in addition to all the stories,
she asked each of us what we considered an unexpected question. Let me share mine.
She asked me; “auntie, do you get stress?” “Sometimes” I responded. Then she asked
me does auntie (my younger sister) get stress.” “Yes sweetie” I said, “everyone gets
stress sometimes.” It was only after we got home, and she was giving us the gifts that
that she brought that I understood her line of questioning. She had brought me and my
sister stress balls! What thoughtful gifts.
Everyone goes through stressful moments but not everyone has a strategy on how to
relieve that stress. While some may manage stress well on their own, others may need
some outside help to manage stress.
That is why one of the Management Principles Michael Zigarelli outlines in his book,
Management by Proverbs, is ‘Relieve Employee Stress.’ Noting that employees carry a
level of concern and discomfort about the future which could lead to stress, he urges
Managers to prioritize stress relieve and recommends some scriptures. One of them is
my favorite and it is Proverbs 11:25.
“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be
refreshed.”
This scripture suggests that everyone needs refreshing at one time or another. Some of
the Bible versions use the word ‘waters. He who waters others will be ‘watered’. Given
that water is life sustaining, the Proverb is urging Managers not only to lend a helping
hand to their subordinates, but to go beyond what the employees would expect. It is a
call to Managers to put aside their own set of struggles and stress and focus a little bit
more on relieving the stress of the team members.
In which ways do Managers exhibit generosity towards those they manage?
- Cultivate Open communication and create a loving, supportive environment. This
can be done through dialogue, active listening, and regular check-ins. - Promote work-life balance. This could include flexible hours, some remote work
or staff outings for leisure and exercise. - Provide resources and support for staff. This could include staff welfare
programmes, counselling services, staff loans etc. - Regularly review and improve workplace policies and procedures. Ensure these
are fair and reasonable and provide the resources necessary for an employee to
perform their duty well.
In what other ways can a manager refresh the employee?