The first Wednesday of November each year is Stress Awareness Day.
Workplace stress is a growing issue. Anything that encourages awareness and discussion of this issue is a good thing. Conflict in the workplace is a significant source of stress, often because issues that arise are not being dealt with in a way that reduces or removes the conflict. Many issues turn into conflict because ‘difficult conversations’ are not taking place when they should or in a sensitive way. Many managers do not feel equipped to undertake difficult conversations and this can cause stress both for them and for the people they manage. These are skills that can be acquired by appropriate training. Many of the soft skills necessary to undertake these sorts of conversations well are the same as the skills that mediators use when addressing conflict. Continue reading “Stress Awareness Day”