1 September 2008

It is pretty apparent that the economic future is bleak. Employers will have to respond to the challenging times ahead and, however they chose to do so, HR will have a key role to play. Cost efficiency will drive changes in the business that may also have negative consequences for employees. Here are some tips to help you stay strong and work effectively under this type of pressure, and some important ground rules for breaking bad news.

The demands placed on the HR professional can easily give way to stress, for example, when the individual feels that they have no control over the situation or perceive a lack of support. In addition, what is asked of them can create inner conflict, especially where the feelings of others are involved. What was once a rewarding job can turn into a nightmare of a role, with agonizing days and sleepless nights. If this is sounding all too familiar to you, these are just some of the things you can try to help you regain control and restore your former positivity.    

1) Be good to yourself 
Eating a proper diet and taking regular exercise can alleviate the physical tension associated with stress and help lower anxiety levels. When work gets particularly depressing or emotionally draining give yourself time to recharge your batteries. Switch off by doing something that you enjoy and spend a little quality me time.  
Try a hot bath before bedtime, with lavender or camomile, to soak away your troubles and promote a good night’s sleep.

2) Keep it real 
If you are unhappy with a particular course of action you need to ask yourself if you have any control over the situation. Use your influence to change what you can. If the circumstances are beyond your control, accept that you are not going to change events and let go of your negative emotions. Concentrate instead on the things that you can do that are within your remit and which can make a difference. 

3) Manage your workload
If you are beginning to feel that there are not enough hours in the day it’s probably time to stop and take stock of what you are doing. Freshen up on your time management techniques and re-establish your priorities. Are you spending a disproportionate amount of time on tasks that add little or no value? Free up your time for projects where your skills and experience are needed, by exploring opportunities to delegate the less demanding aspects of your job. This will also  give someone else a chance to develop new skills and gain experience. Don’t overlook the possibility of engaging external consultants. When this option is explored, you could find that the benefits actually outweigh the cost. 

4) Practice positive self talk
Take charge of your negative thoughts and limiting beliefs. Self talk is very powerful and can control our emotions and our behaviour. Quite often, the experience of stress comes from our perception of a situation, which is not always correct.  Avoid jumping to conclusions and blowing things out of proportion. Positive thinking will help you see things in a different, more positive, light. For example, instead of asking yourself “why does this happen to me?” Ask "what can I learn from this experience?”  Practising positive thinking will help you feel more confident in your ability to deal with the matters at hand.  

5)  Be prepared to deliver bad news
Breaking bad news is never comfortable but by being prepared for the conversation you will be making it easier for you and the individual. Some general rules that you should observe are: 

• Consider the possible reactions and pick an appropriate time and place.
• Be self-confident and maintain eye contact.
• Position the news with a suitable opening statement but don’t engage in unnecessary small talk. 
• Deliver the news clearly and concisely but anticipate that you may have to repeat the facts and clarify understanding. 
• Encourage the employee to share their immediate thoughts and feelings and be prepared to listen to what they have to say. 
• Acknowledge their response. Don’t invalidate their feelings with comments like “don’t worry” or “it’s not all bad” 
• Accept that people react differently and allow the employee to show their emotions.  
• Show empathy not sympathy 
• Ensure that the employee is not left hanging and knows exactly what action to expect and when.

The word recession automatically conjures up images of job losses but are we being too pessimistic? According to an international survey of senior business executives, commissioned by McKinney Rogers, reducing headcount was considered one of the least effective responses. The most popular approaches to beating a recession are far more positive and include developing the workforce, moving into new markets unaffected by the downturn and diversifying the product offering.