Stress busting

Sorry for the hiatus but I'm back firing on all cylinders - witter wise anyway.

This post is on the topic of stress and how it is managed. Or not. Different types of stress trigger different reactions in me. Good stress is usually work related and involves deadlines and challenge. Bad stress always involves family or money issues.
Recently though, I've had occasion to witness the effects stress has on others.

As a new manager, it's been fascinating and frankly bewildering to see the staff freaking out as deadlines approach. When I was in their position I managed my time, knowing that these deadlines lay ahead. Work had to be prioritised and completed accordingly. These people don't seem to work that way.
Ohhhhhhhhhhh no.
Their preferred technique appears to be: leave everything to the last minute and then spin feverishly on the spot, creating a maelstrom of A4 paperwork in the process. I've honestly never seen anything like it.

Part of me thinks - what's wrong with these people? and the other part thinks - what have the previous managers been doing all year? Or rather not doing!

For the past three weeks people have been sprinting past me, panic stricken and sweaty [I'll come back to the sweaty bit later in the blog]as they hurtle towards heart attacks or some well hidden alcohol. I've tried to help the most beleaguered ones who really are so young they don't know any better but the more 'experienced' staff should know better.

Having asked if there are problems at home adding to the stress, I'm assured not. Why then has everything been left till now? These deadlines are annual and should come as a surprise to no-one. The newbies should be warned of them as part of their induction and the older hands should be familiar with the whole process. It's really NOT rocket science.

Anyway, the deadline has passed and I'll be in tomorrow to see if anything has changed i.e. if the wild eyed terror has gone and the blood pressure has dropped back to normal.

Speaking of blood pressure, one member of staff told me her doc wants her to have an ecg etc because her BP is so high. She thinks it is entirely due to her workload but I suspect her sumo sized body mass on a 5'5" skeleton might have something to do with it. And here, dear reader, we return to the sweaty reference made earlier.

My line manager wanted me to tackle this member of staff about body odour. The room she occupies has its own distinctive scent which would benefit from a Glade plug in or ten. Apparently my boss took exception to the odour when the staff member left a vapour trail behind her in the boss's office. In the nicest possible way I told my boss that her interpersonal skills far outweighed mine and that she should tackle that sensitive issue in her own impeccable way. Exit me, chuckling.

The boss took it well and I'm hoping that she doesn't deal with her stress by giving me all the literally stinky jobs she hates. If so, I may visit my doc and asked to be signed off - due to stress. :0)