How to Spot Symptoms of Stress
To prevent prolonged episodes of stress, it's important for you as a leader to recognize the symptoms. Here's an overview of the most common signs of lack of well-being and stress that you need to keep an eye on in your employees.
What Can Lead to Failure to Thrive?
There can be many causes of discontent, such as mental well-being, the physical work environment, as well as an individual's health status and personal life.
Our 30 years of experience in well-being work clearly shows that as humans, we need to experience a balance between the demands we face and the resources available to us – both in our personal lives and in our work.
As a leader, you are responsible for being attentive to and investigating each individual's work-life balance. Demands can be internal demands that individuals place on themselves (such as ambition levels), but also external demands perceived from the organization, leader, or colleagues (such as KPIs).
Resources can encompass internal resources, such as skills, physical abilities, and the overall well-being of the individual. External resources are those we can rely on, such as social communities, tools, or IT systems.
What is Stress?
It's important to differentiate between short-term and long-term stress. Short-term stress is a natural state that allows us to react and respond appropriately in specific situations – for example, when we need to perform extra during a sports event or meet a deadline at work.
Long-term stress is an undesirable individual state that typically persists for weeks or months. Prolonged stress is a risk factor for health and can lead to illness.
As a leader, it's crucial to be aware of both your own early stress symptoms and your employees' warning signals - in order to react in time and prevent it from developing into long-term stress.
Stress symptoms can manifest in three areas: the physiological, the psychological, and the behavioral.
Checklist: What You Should Watch Out for as a Leader
Below you'll find examples of stress symptoms that your employee might be experiencing or has told you about. As a leader, it's especially important to pay attention to changes in behavior. Have you noticed, for instance, that your employee has repeatedly withdrawn from lunch, is not performing as usual, or is displaying a different mood than usual?
The rule of thumb is that the greater the behavioral changes over an extended period, the higher the risk of developing stress. That's why it's important for you to know your employee well.
Behavioral Symptoms
- Sleep problems, such as poor and restless sleep
- Reduced performance ability
- Indecisiveness and difficulty prioritizing
- Increased use of stimulants like sugar, coffee, or alcohol
Psychological Symptoms
- Lack of interest in hobbies and activities
- Fatigue during the day
- Memory and concentration problems - even in simple conversations
- Mood swings, such as irritability, aggression, or despondency
Physical Symptoms
- Heart palpitations even when sitting still
- Internal restlessness in the body
- Sweating in response to 'harmless' situations
- Persistent or frequent headaches
Need leadership guidance?
Consultation with an AS3 leadership consultant is included in your company's subscription to the EVI well-being survey. Write directly to Trivselsraadgiver@as3.dk - and we'll call you back.
