How to Manage Stress in Your IT Team

Employer Insights

Have you noticed lately that the members of your IT department seem out of sorts? Stress among tech employees isn’t surprising, especially as most IT jobs are stressful in nature. As an employer, you can’t always control stress on the job; however, you can take steps to ease stress levels among your employees and improve their overall work experience at your organization. Here are some ways you can get started:

Set goals and expectations for your team.

If your employees are unclear as to what they’re expected to accomplish, they’ll surely become stressed about their performance over time. On a weekly or monthly basis, it’s imperative to set clearly stated goals and expectations for every member of your IT team, from upper managers to entry-level workers. Being transparent about what tasks need to be performed – and how they should be carried out – will eliminate confusion and ensure your employees are using their time wisely. Scheduling regular check-ins also help to ensure everybody is on track and understands their roles within the context of the IT department.

Offer some flexibility when possible.

While IT departments always need some level of structure, introducing even just a little bit of flexibility can do wonders to reduce stress levels – and improve job satisfaction and happiness! There are many small ways to offer flexibility, such as letting employees start their shifts earlier so they can leave earlier to pick their children up. Or, you may consider allowing employees to work from home one day a week if their job responsibilities allow it. If you are in an area currently practicing social distancing due to the coronavirus, this may be happening anyway. If these options aren’t feasible, there are other ways to show flexibility. Taking a step back from monitoring your employees and letting them meet their deadlines without constant micromanagement is one major way to alleviate stress and make employees feel more comfortable performing their work.

Promote workplace wellness.

Workplace wellness isn’t just a buzz phrase – it’s a cultural mindset. Adopting this concept within your workplace can be a game-changer for stress reduction in your IT department and beyond. Workplace wellness initiatives that reduce stress on the job include onsite fitness classes, healthy lunch offerings, and even outdoor meetings. Allowing your employees to break away from their workstations will allow them to decompress and gain clarity, especially when they’re dealing with challenging situations. The key is to give employees easy outlets to be mindful of their health and focus on their wellness, even at work.

These are just some helpful practices that will get you started in effectively managing stress levels on your IT team. Over time, implementing stress management will improve morale and job satisfaction among your team, resulting in an enhanced culture and less employee burnout.