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How Tech Companies Can Manage Stress Through Assessments

ORCA Blog Featured Image 11

Workplace stress is at an all-time high and those in the tech and IT industry are shouldering more than most. 

According to Gartner, Inc., by 2025, nearly half of cybersecurity leaders will change jobs, 25% for different roles entirely due to multiple work-related stressors. Employee burnout and anxiety are leading to record attrition rates, and organizations that rely on the knowledge and dedication of their workforce are facing a significant threat to their security teams.

Although many of these companies know that workplace stress is an issue, often it can be considered an individual issue, not something the company itself needs to change. Or if a company does want to address stress, they aren’t sure how to diagnose, make changes and measure that change. That’s where stress assessments and workshops can help to give good data and actionable steps to make an impact. 

But first, let’s talk about the issues that cause stress in tech organizations.  

The damage of workplace stress when left unaddressed

When employees experience stress, it can have a significant impact on the organization as a whole. Prioritizing the wellbeing of employees by taking steps to manage stress levels is critical for organizations, and leaders, who wish to create a healthier and more productive workforce. Workplace stress can cause: 

  • Burnout: a common result of prolonged stress, can cause employees to feel exhausted and disengaged from their work. This can lead to decreased productivity, lower morale, and increased absenteeism.
  • Attrition: employees who experience high levels of stress are more likely to leave their jobs, seeking opportunities with better work-life balance or lower stress levels. 
  • Work Quality: when employees are stressed, they may make mistakes, miss important details, or fail to take necessary precautions, leading to an increased risk of errors. 
  • Security Threats: employees who are stressed and burnt out are less likely to follow security guidelines and protocols leading to a higher risk of data breaches. 

Security threats are especially concerning for the IT and cybersecurity sector where insider threats such as data theft, sabotage and malicious activity require constant vigilance from employees. Mismanagement of critical security tasks can lead to data breaches and compromise an organization’s sensitive data which could easily result in fines, penalties and punitive consequences. 

Diagnosing stress through assessments

Workplace stress can be a complex issue that manifests in different ways depending on the individual and the organization. Without a proper diagnosis, it can be difficult to determine the root cause of workplace stressors. For example, you may not be aware of which departments or roles are most affected, what specific stressors are present, or how stress impacts individual or team performance. Without this information, any solution or intervention implemented may be ineffective or even counterproductive, as they may not address the underlying causes. Not to mention, without a clear understanding of the problem, it can be challenging to measure the effectiveness of any interventions.

Assessments, like the TTI SI assessment offered by ORCA, are powerful tools that can diagnose issues like stress on an individual, team or organizational level. This allows for real data that can give companies a baseline of where they are at now as well as showing improvements over time. As we all know, without data and measurable results, C-suite leaders and board members are less likely to take action. 

Addressing stress individually for leaders

Leaders who take an active role in managing stress at their organization create a more positive and productive work environment that benefits not only their team but the organization as a whole. When leadership is involved it sends a clear message to staff that their wellbeing is a top priority, leading to increased engagement and a more positive work culture. However, our philosophy is that leaders must show by example and manage their own wellbeing first before they can help others. Actions from leadership trickle down and sets the tone for the whole organization.

That’s why helping leaders identify their individual stressors is vital to the organization as a whole.

When working with ORCA, the TTI SI Assessment is paired with ORCA 4 A’s of Conscious Leadership framework so leaders can identify their stressors and take action to solve them.

Diagnosing stress within teams and organizations

Similarly, assessment can also be utilized to diagnose workplace stressors within teams or in the organization as a whole. Organizations can: 

  • Determine how stress is impacting productivity 
  • See if work demands are spurring discontent 
  • Uncover unresolved issues across teams 
  • Have the prompts to address stress head-on

This helps companies then implement programs and actions to reduce the specific stressors that are most important. 

Companies that proactively address and effectively manage workplace stress are seen as more attractive places to work and will help retain and attract great talent. 

Get a sneak peek.

With stress being such an issue for many of our clients, we’ve created some additional free resources so you can learn more about how to actionably diagnose and manage stress in your organization. 

I’ve created a free 15 minute mini-course on 7 ways you can diagnose organizational stress—AND 7 ways to actionably address that stress, now.

In just a few minutes, I’ll give you an overview of: 

  • Why stress management is important for organizations
  • The 7 factors of stress in the workplace 
  • How to measure the 7 factors of stress individually, as a team, and as an organization
  • Determining actions to manage and address organizational stress

Once you’ve completed the mini-course, you’ll also have access to try out the TTI SI Assessment for free. This way you can see what’s included in the report  and experience the value it can provide for your organization. 

Get access to the mini-course and your free assessment here

How CHROs Can Lead (Consciously) During a Shallow Recession 

We know 98% of CEOs are forecasting a shallow recession in the next 12 to 18 months. As more and more CHROs and People Officers are included in overall business decisions, these roles will be important in determining how well the business does. While CEOs and CFOs promote caution in expenses, how can CHROs help lead, consciously?

Provide support + guidance in talent management

CHROs can help by ensuring employees are motivated and committed to the organization’s success during a downturn through programs that promote employee well-being and foster a positive workplace culture.

Talent management can not only survive but evolve during an economic downturn. Adaptation is the fourth step in our Conscious Leadership framework, because now that we’ve become aware; acknowledged where we’re at (in this case, on the verge of a recession); and taken action toward our preferred outcomes, now we can adapt. Guiding what recruiting will help the organization be most productive at this time will be an adaptive process CHROs can impact greatly. 

Help identify + retain key employees

CHROs can help the CEO to identify and retain key employees who are critical to the organization’s success in higher-growth business lines.

With the highest tech layoffs since the dot-com crash 20 years ago, retaining key employees will be crucial to keep business going. Encouraging feedback and input from employees; fostering an atmosphere of flexibility; and placing an emphasis on clear work objectives are all routes to greater retention and employee engagement, but one thing we see as an even bigger barrier for CHROs to help through is stress management

Keep an eye on stress management

A shallow recession is a time of uncertainty, which can lead to a high level of stress for CHROs and other leaders. 

According to recent data, more than one-third of working Americans reported experiencing chronic work stress, and just 36 percent said their organizations provide sufficient resources to help them manage that stress. During a recession? That number is sure to be higher. 

It’s really important to take care of yourself first, prioritizing effective self-care. You can’t fill others’ cups without first filling yours. 

Being open and empathetic goes a long way. Everyone will react differently to change and a recession and everyone is impacted differently. Taking strides to reduce stress across the organization will be more important during this time. 

Raising the consciousness and competencies of your organization starts with your leadership. Leaders are multipliers and when we bring our whole, conscious, intentional selves to the table, people thrive and flourish (and therefore our businesses thrive and flourish).

Be proactive with stress management for recession-proof HR

CHROs need to be ready to come to the executive table with an actionable plan to lead during the upcoming recession. If you’re a CHRO and need help developing your organizational leadership objectives and execution, reach out to our experts at experts@orcahrsolutions.com

Or take a complementary stress assessment and 30 minute consultation to see how you can use it within your organization. Email experts@orcahrsolutions.com to request yours. 

In today’s workplace, managing stress is #1

The link between stress, emotional intelligence, + highly productive teams in tech organizations

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, now more than ever, workplace stress in America has become a serious threat to workers’ overall wellbeing and health, ultimately threatening and weakening organizations. But what exactly counts as work stress? It’s not the challenges that energize you psychologically and physically and that motivate you to learn and problem solve (“good stress”). It is when job requirements fail to match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the employee, causing negative and often harmful physical and emotional responses (“bad stress”).

With job stress becoming an increasing problem, researchers have conducted numerous surveys and studies to find out how many employees are affected and what type of mental and physical health problems they are experiencing as a result. Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report shows that in 2021, stress among the world’s workforce reached an all time high, with 44% of employees experiencing stress a lot of the previous day. In the U.S. and Canada, that number is higher with 50% of employees experiencing daily stress that can be categorized as “bad stress.” 

So how do you, as a CHRO, reduce workplace stress? 

On the front lines of tech stress

As technology progresses, we are pushed further into an online world. As a result, there are more and more security issues with hackers trying to breach and disrupt companies and organizations in this online space; at ORCA HR, we work with many tech companies, and see stress in the cybersecurity sector as a particularly acute scenario. 

One concern of a past client from a cybersecurity organization was how these security breaches were impacting the workers who had to prevent or fix these issues, especially since these breaches caused severely negative PR. 

According to a report from IBM, the majority of cybersecurity incident responders think the rise of ransomware has exacerbated the stress and psychological demands—with 67% of cybersecurity incident responders said they experience stress and anxiety in their daily lives as a result of responding to an incident.

To help this company, we created a stress management workshop that helped workers identify, acknowledge, and control their stress, which was becoming pervasive even when there wasn’t an active breach.

Discovering your workplace stressors

One tool that we like using to assess stress is the TTI SI Stress Quotient Assessment tool. This is a diagnostics tool that focuses on workplace culture and helps to determine and measure one’s stressors. It does so by analyzing stress in 7 different dimensions to help pinpoint which areas your team might be struggling in.

The seven dimensions include: 

  1. Workplace Demands
  2. Effort and Reward Balance
  3. Control
  4. Organizational Change
  5. Management Issues
  6. Social Support
  7. Job Security

Each of these categories have their own set of characteristics and responses which can affect performance on an individual or team-wide level.

Understanding where stress resides within the seven dimensions of the workplace

  • Workplace Demands 
      • Stress resulting from excessive demand happens when workloads become overwhelming or skills or talents don’t match the position.  
      • Reflect: Is my job even designed well enough in terms of what I’m expected to do?
  • Effort and Reward Balance
      • When high levels of output and effort are met with minimal rewards – whether that be compensation, a promotion or simple recognition for a job well done – an individual’s stress can skyrocket. Without an effort/reward balance, an employee can feel disconnected, unmotivated and even angry.
      • Reflect: Is my effort and the reward I receive in balance?
  • Control
      • Feeling powerless is a universal cause of job stress. Lack of control comes from high responsibility paired with low authority, not being heard, not being involved and others not understanding your work.
      • Reflect: Do I have autonomy in my role?
  • Organizational Change
      • Changes within the organization– from management restructuring to new policies and procedures – impact individuals differently. For some, it brings apprehension, insecurity and confusion – all which can raise stress levels when changes are not properly communicated or understood.
      • Reflect: How much organizational change is causing stress?
  • Management Issues
      • Reasonable directives from your boss should be expected. It’s when he or she creates enormous pressure or challenges, to the point of it hindering your workload, that cause stress to increase.
      • Reflect: Is your manager equipped to handle the increasing scale of the work?
  • Social Support
      • An unsupportive social environment can cause workplace stress. Managers who don’t provide clear and consistent information and co-workers who fail to assist one another leaves employees feeling unengaged and unproductive.
      • Reflect: Am I receiving support from others around me?
  • Job Security
    • Fearing for your job is extremely stressful. However, stress can also be caused by lack of advancement, being promoted too slowly or being promoted too quickly to be successful in the job.
    • Reflect: Do I feel secure about my job?

When you’re not aware of certain things, they are going to control you

Workplace stress is something that can have a large negative impact on productivity and employee flourishing if left unchecked. Through the use of the TTI SI Stress Assessment, we are able to analyze stress from many different viewpoints; not just individual stress but also organizational stress. If you can look at the whole system people work in and break it down into types of stress, then you can find the particular stress that needs to be addressed. 

Once we are able to pinpoint and defuse the stressors, we are able to begin making progress to reduce their control and impact on performance. 

Is your team (or even your whole organization) struggling with stress? 

Take a complementary stress assessment and 30 minute consultation. Email experts@orcahrsolutions.com to request yours. 



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10 Tips for Successfully Working from Home with Your New “Colleagues”

Most of us are working at home with a new set of colleagues. My newest work colleague is a teenager, who has lost the normal daily structures of High School. He is not very happy with this or this new working environment. This provides its own set of challenges as we learn to work together.

Others of you might have a younger set of new colleagues who are even more demanding, and less understanding of the new working arrangements. You might also be competing for workspace with a partner who is now your new work colleague.

10 TIPS WHEN WORKING FROM HOME AND A FREE TOOL TO SUPPORT YOU

1.     Have a routine and structure for your day while still being flexible with this new environment/situation.

2.     Set clear boundaries with friends, family, and even pets to avoid possibly procrastinating tough challenges.

3.     If you are at home with children, find time to connect! It is different when they are in school given the distance and out of sight out of mind, but now that everyone is in the same space, new norms need to be established. Spending 10-20-30 quality minutes during the day will pay dividends.

4.     It is easy to get distracted or be tempted to log more hours from a remote location in the support of the team — remember to manage your own energy and take some time for yourself.

5.     Set expectations around the time you will be working – a clear beginning and end time?

6.     If you are having a challenge, ensure you communicate with your leader or a peer to seek solutions. Ask questions on things you are unsure about via online chat or email.

7.     Move regularly throughout your day. Don’t forget to stand up and make sure you add regular breaks into your normal daily routine.

8.     Communicate with family and friends using an online chat tool with your colleagues more frequently than normal to avoid a feeling of isolation. We need people more than ever right now.

9.     Don’t shy away from challenging assignments; simply ask for help if you need it.

10.   Be aware that living in these uncertain times can create uncertainty and anxiety, (See our LinkedIn post) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leading-times-anxiety-uncertainty-paul-o-beirne/)

If you’re having a hard time transitioning to #WorkingFromHomeLife, you’re not alone. The good news is that we have great tool to share with you and your colleagues to make communication easier. Please take advantage of our gift from TTI and ORCA HR Solutions of a Free Working from Home Report . https://www.ttisurvey.com/391683VRF  This is based on our most popular DISC Behavioral Report. This takes no more than 10 minutes complete and will give you insights into your own behaviors and some tips of how to work with your family and colleagues.

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Engage your People with Caring Conversations

As I reflect on my previous role as a Microsoft Global HR leader. I have been wondering how I would have navigated a similar moment in history and what challenges I would have faced in that role. What support could I offer my teams as an HR leader and as a business leader as we enter an unprecedented period of uncertainty and upheaval?

Over 80% of the U.S. is being asked to stay at home and some countries, like Italy, are in 100% lock-down. I want to pay my respects and gratitude to people working in essential roles, especially the medical teams on the front lines of support for COVID-19 patients. 

 Since so many are working from home, I have received dozens of emails about virtual meetings and information on how to use technology to support people during crisis. A range of technologies help us communicate when we are physically distanced; however, we need to ensure that our people feel supported through genuine human connection. 

What conversations are you having that connect personally to each of your employees at this time?  How do you show you care?

We must reach out with compassion and empathy. How do you empathize and “step outside your emotions to view something from the perspective of the other person”? To help you gain a wider perspective on what your teams are feeling and experiencing, consider the following questions/tactics:  

  • Reach out to listen with empathy about what is going on in their lives at this moment and how can you provide support 
  •  Ask them what transitions are they going through personally and how can you support them through this. Some people will be feeling a sense of grief from intense change.  
  • Let them know we are all in this together and you don’t have all the answers  
  • Ensure they feel empowered and trusted to take care of their work and schedules 
  • Engage them in conversations, creating the space to come up with innovative ideas 
  • Ask how you can help them move forward through uncertainty 
  • Ask how you can set up a great virtual environment, and provide them with some best practices? 
  •  Be transparent about the work situation and what you know and don’t know 

In the past few weeks, I have read and spoke to a few leaders who are doing great things to support their people. Others have not yet taking action. Where do you stand?  

Some leaders are intentional in their support and some are innovative, offering virtual beer afternoons, coffee breaks online, mental health breaks, mindfulness classes, book clubs from home, reach-outs to help others in need, and many more great ideas. 

I would love to hear from you if you would like to share what are you doing to support your people and what innovative ideas are emerging in your world.    

To help you facilitate support for your teams, we offer a virtual workshop and webinar. 

“Leading in Times of Anxiety and Uncertainty Virtual Workshop”  

  • Helping my myself to help others:  Using Emotional Intelligence tools to understand what is happening to me in times of uncertainty.
  • Empathy and Conversations that build connections :  How I can understand what others are feeling and experiencing. How I can create conversations that build trust and strengthen relationships
  • Supporting my people through turbulent times:  Practical exercises and frameworks that I can use to support myself and my teams 

Contact us at info@orcahrsolutions.com

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Leading in Times of Anxiety and Uncertainty

To support their teams through uncertain times, effective leaders reflect first on their internal world and personal awareness. By understanding themselves better, leaders can apply that knowledge to navigate the external world and offer relevant guidance and aid to others.

Facing uncertainty, we may find that our bodies feel tense and we cannot channel our energies on forward movement. We are frozen by the fear and anxiety surrounding us. On an instinctual level, our brains first stop and assess our environment for safety and danger. This reaction is perfectly normal as our nervous system has entered a “threat state”. To read more information about this natural neurological reaction, see the footnote below describing the SCARF model*.

Reacting to threatening experiences, our bodies release cortisol, the fear hormone, with dire long-term consequences for our health. Positive experiences trigger the release of dopamine, a hormone that contributes to confidence and higher performance.

An average of three positive experiences dilutes one comparable negative experience because cortisol is three times more powerful than dopamine. To reduce your stress level, engage in as many positive experiences as you can to boost your beneficial dopamine levels.

As a leader, proactively taking steps to support your people  creates more positive experiences in this time of high anxiety and uncertainty.

  1. Start with yourself and be aware of how you are feeling about the current situation.
  2. Practice self-regulation in moments of high stress.
  3. Reach out to others. Ask people how they are feeling. Actively listen. Connect. Everyone needs more support and social connection at this time.
  4. Set up a meeting with your team with no agenda. Gather your team and ask each person to share what is happening if they would like.
  5. Ask your team regularly about how you can best support them as circumstances change rapidly.
  6. Share these 10 steps with your group.

Below is a checklist of 10 immediate actions to take yourself, and share with your team to increase their positive experiences and decrease their stress.

  1. Be mindful – Recognize and acknowledge your thoughts and emotions at this moment. Be aware of tension in your body. Name your feelings. To improve your self-awareness, you can ask yourself:
    1. What am I experiencing right now? How am I experiencing that in my body? Be specific about naming thoughts and feelings. My mind fills with fearful thoughts. My throat feels tight. Pressure weighs on my chest. My jaw clenches when I’m anxious.
      • Name your emotions specifically – e.g fear, sadness, guilt, anger or frustration?
      • Why am I experiencing these emotions? Validate what you’re feeling as useful information to move forward.
    2. What are some of the reasons I feel this way? What can I control? What is out of my hands?
    3. How do these emotions impact me and my ability to perform or move forward?
    4. What small step can I take to improve the situation?
  2. Take action today on what you can control: Prioritize action on what moves you forward rather than focus on all the things you cannot control.
  3. Connect with others: We are social beings; our community helps us feel safe. Reach out to people by phone or video, connect with friends and family, following social distance guidelines.
  4. Engage in what refuels you; What can you do to refuel or recharge your energy? Practicing mindfulness or meditation can be very helpful in these uncertain times.
  5. Move your body: Exercise to relax, and stimulate your brain’s production of endorphins, the chemicals that act as the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators.
  6. Experience nature:  Evidence shows that spending time in nature creates many measurable beneficial changes in the body and the mind.
  7. Talk to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling. Talking out loud about your fears and anxieties can reduce your stress level. If you’re feeling really stuck, talk to a mental health professional or coach.
  8. Create a routine for your day: Since many of us are working from home, without the predictable structure of the work environment, it is normal to feel a bit lost, or out of sorts. Build a daily structure that supports you and helps you deal with the uncertainty still to come.
  9. Pause: If possible, slow down on making major decisions. Be aware that emotions precede actions and you may not make the best decision when you’re feeling stressed. Fear and anxiety can have a deep subconscious effect on our ultimate decision in a given situation. A negative emotional reaction may cause a disregard of facts or data that that logically support a certain decision. Pause and revisit the decision when your mind and body are in a less threatened state.
  10. Help others: Reach out to people who may need support. There is scientific evidence that when we focus on doing something good for others, the act of kindness causes our brain to release dopamine, increasing own our happiness and calming our minds. If you can activate yourself or your community without putting yourself at risk, do so.

If you need support putting these steps into action, please contact us for a free 15-minute consultation. We have tools and methodologies to support you through these uncertain times.

Additional Information

*David Rock, NeuroLeadership Institute, refers to the SCARF Model*that describes the five domains of human social experience: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness.

  • Status defines relative importance to others.
  • Certainty concerns our ability to predict the future
  • Autonomy provides a sense of control over event
  • Relatedness describes our sense of safety with others. Friend or foe?
  • Fairness depicts the perception of open-minded exchanges between people.

These five domains activate either the ‘primary reward’ or ‘primary threat’ circuitry (and associated networks) of the brain. A perceived threat to one’s status activates similar brain networks that respond to a threat to one’s life. In the same way, a perceived increase in fairness activates the same reward circuitry as receiving a monetary reward.

The model enables people to more easily remember, recognize, and potentially modify the core social domains that drive human behavior. In normal circumstances, the brain assesses our environment for safety and danger. However, in the current state of the world with the Covid19 crisis, we are experiencing additional stress:

  • We cannot personally control the global reaction to the Coronavirus
  • There is uncertainty about how and when the situation will resolve
  • In the immediate future, our autonomy as an individual has been severely impacted.

In addition to this our need for personal connection to others and relationships are being impacted. We respond neurologically to these challenging situations as if there has been a threat to our life. Frightening experiences produce more stress hormones, like cortisol over time. If we can’t reduce our stress levels, the following can occur:

  • Decreased cognitive performance
  • Decreased oxygen available for critical brain functions
  • Tendency to overgeneralize
  • Defensive responses
  • Exaggerated reactions to small stressors
  • Heightened agitation
  • The tendency to dwell on previous negative experiences
  • Struggle to get along with others