10 tips for managing a high-intensity workplace

Modern occupations come with newer problems and one of them is having a high-intensity workplace where multitasking is the norm, time crunch is a standard and negative health implications are an outcome.

A culture of being “always on the call” is not healthy for a company because, despite increased efforts, productivity observes a deep slur.

High-intensity workplaces often have a dull environment, with higher stress levels, which result in lower confidence and lesser productivity.

However, in most of the environments, high-intensity work may not be eliminated, but surely managed to a certain extent with the collaboration of both managers and subordinates by adopting certain measures.

1. Recognition of the problem is the first step towards managing a high-intensity workplace effectively. Unless, you can figure the problems out, you cannot bring forth a solution. If the initial signs are ignored, trouble might be already on its way.

2. Stop multi-tasking and start working on focused activities at a given time. From increasing stress to decreasing productivity, multi-tasking does not work in activities that require your brain power. The human mind can retain only 7-9 things at a given time, so respect its limitations.

3. Prepare yourself for the situations of stress. Little tweaks in lifestyle and attitude can make you a better player at work. An employee with superior emotional and physical health is more capable of managing stress resulting from a constantly demanding job.

4. Prioritise your work and make a schedule. An important thing to consider here is not to over-commit yourself to too many things. Do the most rewarding and difficult tasks in the earlier parts of the day, leaving the more redundant and easier ones for a later time.

5. Neither seek to be a perfectionist nor expect others to be so. There is not a single task that can’t be done in a better way, therefore, keep your ambitions realistic and don’t try to control the uncontrollable. This is vital to reduce a burnout.

6. Managers can aid in making a workplace comfortable by keeping calm while in high-stress situations. Communicating effectively with a team and giving them specific roles and responsibilities with focused deliverables helps the team to plan their course of action in advance and reduce last moment crunches.

7. Introducing incentives based on results rather than hours invested leads to more productivity. Managers should ask their subordinates that working overtime is a mark of inefficiency and should push the employees to set up their own deadlines realistically.

8. Managers should stress on having a “work-life balance”. They should counsel their personnel to take an interest in activities not related to their job. A person who socializes with other people can generate better ideas than one who doesn’t have a social life.

9. Managers should stop expecting that an “ideal employee” needs to be on phone 24 * 7 and should have a career as his only consideration. They should rather encourage their workers to have a family life, a sports life, and a general civic life. A healthy brain produces a healthy worker and a dull one produces a dull resource.

10. Good work should be acknowledged and appreciated. This gives a pleasant feeling and a sense of achievement. Often ignored efforts lead to dissatisfaction, especially coming in from more laborious jobs.

(The article is authored by Yogesh Sood, CMD, Blanchard Research and Training India LLP)

(Image: Thinkstock)