For the first time since my years as a part-time studying parent, while also completing my accounting articles, I find myself at the mercy of circumstances beyond my control. I think it is safe to say, and I speak on behalf of many of my fellow South Africans, when I say, I feel emotionally exhausted!
I had barely worked my last day in 2022 when, a few days later, I was yet again seated behind my desk. The news feeds and negative headlines from social media and news networks clearly did not do the same, and we seem to continue right where we left off in December.
Poor economic predictions, Andre De Ruyter’s resignation and the government’s announcement of permanent loadshedding was not how I wanted to restart my year to say the least! Emotional exhaustion seems visible on everyone’s faces.
In spite of this, I will try to bring a measure of clarity, hope and inspiration through the publication of my blog. I took it upon myself to read up a bit on matters such as chronic stress, mental wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and the like, in an attempt to try and offer some guidance and suggestions on how we can all try to be a bit better to each other this year.
I had barely worked my last day in 2022 when, a few days later, I was yet again seated behind my desk. The news feeds and negative headlines from social media and news networks clearly did not do the same, and we seem to continue right where we left off in December.
Poor economic predictions, Andre De Ruyter’s resignation and the government’s announcement of permanent loadshedding was not how I wanted to restart my year to say the least! Emotional exhaustion seems visible on everyone’s faces.
In spite of this, I will try to bring a measure of clarity, hope and inspiration through the publication of my blog. I took it upon myself to read up a bit on matters such as chronic stress, mental wellbeing, emotional intelligence, and the like, in an attempt to try and offer some guidance and suggestions on how we can all try to be a bit better to each other this year.
The toxic work environment
Certain companies seem to be more inclined to create toxic environments for their employees. Just to be clear, no company deliberately sets out to become a bad place to work at, in many cases it slowly takes hold of the business over a period of time. A basic search reveals many examples of early success stories of creative workplaces turned toxic as the business become more competitive and profitable.
Some of the typical characteristics of a toxic work environment, may include the following:
• Unclear mission, vision, and business goals.
• Limited senior or executive level support. • Promoting an emergency culture, linked to fear and threats.
• High work volumes but low levels of resources and support.
• A commodity-like approach to the management of human capital.
• Constant moving of goalposts and counterproductive strategies.
• Admitting to stress or burnout is considered a sign of weakness.
The best way to change this culture is of course for companies and senior executives to create environments that do the opposite. But there is also a responsibility on employees to ensure they maintain healthy and productive working habits.
Don't be your own worst enemy
The modern workplace is a permutation of on and off-site work arrangements requiring new models of leadership, management, and approaches. By implication employees need to be more versatile and adaptable. Understandably this can lead to a high-stress environments to older or less tech savvy employees.
But employees can also be guilty of displaying behavior that are counterproductive to a sound work-life-balance. A healthy balance help to better manage high stress work environments.
Behaviors to be avoided include the following:
• Extreme work ethics and personal beliefs (I can do it all on my own / I don’t need anyone’s help / I will work as many hours as I need to).
• No recovery or switching-off activities (sport, hobbies, rest, sleep).
• Perfectionism and an obsessive pursuit of unreasonable standards.
• Not speaking up or asking for support when needed on high-pressure projects.
• Complete lack of boundaries and a total identification with the work role.
• Miss-alignment between personal values and company work ethic.
CLOSING REMARKS
A logical question one can ask is whether high performance employees promote toxic work environments, or, if a highly competitive work environment eventually leads to high stressed employees. It appears to be a bit of a chicken-egg situation.
I want to suggest that it’s irrelevant in my opinion. The truth is that we are all under immense work and cost pressures, and for the foreseeable future, it seems it’s going to stay that way. We all need to do more to be kind and to help each other work through this tough economic time.
As employees, executives, and business owners, we spend the majority of our time at work or busy ourselves with work related activities. Creating healthy workplaces and promoting a sense of belonging and compassion for each other is an essential step in making sure we can all survive the current world events.
If you wish to be successful this year; if you wish to be profitable; if you wish to move forward, then simply follow the wise words from the Beatles; “All You Need is Love”.
Be good. Be kind. Be great.
SOURCES
1. SHRM Survey: 41 Percent of Workers Feel Burnt Out During Pandemic, 11 May 2020, Read Online.
2. Employee Burnout Statistics You Need to Know, 16 Jan 2020, Read Online.
3. Workplace Burnout Survey, Read Online.
4. Burn-out an "occupational phenomenon": International Classification of Diseases, 28 May 2019, Read Online.
5. How to Recognize Burnout Symptoms, 16 Oct 2022, Read Online.