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BUSINESS BASICS & BEST PRACTICES BULLETIN

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Competitive Knowledge for Manufacturing People 
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Early in my plant management career, I wouldn’t take 
time to learn how to relax. I just accepted the stress 
of the day as part of the job. The result was chronic 
headaches and an occasional back muscle spasm that 
would put me down for a couple of days.

I can remember back when I arrived home from work, my 
wife would have a hot bath and a double belt of 
Jack on the rocks ready for me when I arrived. Into 
the bath, take about ten deep breaths, take a big swig 
of the Jack, and breath a sigh of relief … the work 
day is over and it is time to relax. Wow, I made it 
through another day.


It wasn’t until late in my career that I learned how to 
relax and not let the pressure of day-to-day scrambling 
get to me. If you are feeling the stress of the day, 
and want to do something about it, don’t miss reading 
today’s article. 

Have a nice day, keep the faith, and stay connected.

Bill Gaw
Business Basics, LLC
Bg@bbasicsllc.com
760-945-5596

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BUSINESS BASICS & BEST PRACTICES BULLETIN

Now serving over 4684 subscribers

Competitive Knowledge for Manufacturing People 
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HOW TO REDUCE STRESS

The workplace holds a plethora of anxiety-producers. 
Many are from unpredictable sources such as sudden job 
losses, relocations, losing co-workers to downsizing 
or having multiple bosses in quick succession. But, 
most stress in the workplace is brought on by the 
frustration generated by day-to-day work routines. 

To reduce stress brought on by such changes, employees 
need to assess their skills periodically, learn new 
ones, participate in professional or trade associations 
and stay current on industry trends. By maintaining 
employability and support systems, you can be better 
prepared the next time your company downsizes, merges 
or changes focus. You can also prepare yourself to 
change your day-to-day work routine.

10 WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

We can't eliminate stress, but there are ways to manage 
it. The following 10 tips can help you reduce your 
overall stress and ease specific sources of anxiety.

1. MAINTAIN A SENSE OF PERSONAL POWER. 

A study of high-pressure work environments by Essi, 
a San Francisco research firm, shows one factor that 
predicts which employees would become ill and which 
stayed healthy: people's perception of their personal 
power or lack of it. Personal power is defined as how 
much control you feel you have over your life, your 
ability to function and express yourself.

Ideally, your work environment will be an organization 
where colleagues and superiors listen to your problems 
and solutions and you're consulted when your role is 
redesigned, given the resources and information needed 
to perform the job and can contribute your ideas.

2. PRACTICE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION. 

Communication is essential for preventing and easing 
tensions. Whether you head a team or are a team of 
one, how effective you are at communication depends 
on how well you understand others' verbal and 
nonverbal messages. Pay attention to co-workers' 
gestures, tone of voice and posture.

3. DEVELOP GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. 

Trust, respect, understanding and compassion are 
necessary in any relationship. Co-workers have to 
function as a team and reach a common goal. But 
they often focus all their attention on their tasks 
and very little on how they treat each other.

Good work relationships will relieve stress and can 
buffer you from other stresses. Spend five minutes 
of each hour considering how to get along with your 
co-workers.

4. CHOOSE THE RIGHT JOB. 

During interviews, ask the questions that help you 
make sure the job's right for you. Get a realistic 
picture of the company or department's culture, 
working relationships, problems and hidden agendas.

5. BE FLEXIBLE. 

Recognize and accept that things change. If you need 
to hold on tightly to the status quo, you need to 
loosen up. Think of your organization as a space ship. 
It's constantly correcting its course "to go where no 
man has gone before" in the marketplace. You have to 
change with it. Be proactive. You're in a better 
position to maneuver if you are primed and ready.

6. MANAGE YOUR ANGER. 

When you feel a surge of anger rising, back off and 
leave the scene as soon as you can. Repeat in your 
mind: "let go" or "relax." Breathe deeply until you 
feel your tension leave.

Ask what's the real reason for my anger? Gain 
perspective and plan your next step. Practice what 
you'll say and how you'll say it. Make sure you're 
calm and in control of your emotions. Approach the 
person with a win-win attitude and desire to resolve 
the problem and have a good working relationship.

7. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. 

Don't set yourself up for disappointment or put 
yourself on an emotional roller coaster. Try to be 
optimistic and realistic at the same time. This 
outlook doesn't mean you shouldn't have desires or 
expectations. Just make sure you're not always 
longing for the impossible.

8. ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE. 

Your attitude--how you make others feel about you and 
how you make them feel about themselves--can make or 
break your future.

How's your attitude? Do you complain the moment 
something doesn't suit you, or do you take things in 
stride? Try to see yourself through the eyes of others. 
Do you make others happy or miserable? If you need to, 
make an attitude adjustment.

9. TIE UP LOOSE ENDS. 

Not being able to finish a task can be unsettling to 
those who like to shut doors and end sentences with 
a period. Most people need some kind of closure on 
projects, even the little ones.

If you're on a treadmill where you're always beginning 
new tasks before finishing old ones, make a list of 
what's left hanging. This exercise can make projects 
seem more manageable. How can you structure your time 
to tie up those loose ends?

10. TAKE TIME TO REVIVE. 

People aren't built like machines. They can't run with 
their engines revved up continuously. Eventually they 
wear out. That's why there are coffee and lunch breaks. 
It's long been recognized that people need to take a 
little time off every few hours to revive. They return 
to their tasks with renewed enthusiasm.

If you can, try not to take work home. Every now and 
then a project may take some extra time, but work 
shouldn't be devouring your life. 

Wow, I sound like a preacher but believe me, learning 
to control the your stress is an important part of 
your professional development. You may not be able to 
make it all go away, but you can create a mental 
relief value and train it to open and let the stress 
out when it gets to be too much.

  STAY CONNECTED

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