The Management Tip of the Day

Stop Telling Your Coworkers How Stressed Out You Are.‌ When we're stressed, we talk about it. ("Ugh, I have so much to do!") But sharing our anxieties, which makes us feel better in the moment, makes the people around us feel worse. Like a contagion, stress can spread. To manage yours better, and to spare your coworkers from catching it, change how you talk when you're frazzled. Don't just tell your coworkers you're stressed — tell them what you're doing about it. Will you stop checking email on weekends? Take more walks during lunch? Get more sleep? Whatever it is, make it part of the conversation. You can also ask coworkers what has worked for them in the past. Discussing strategies, rather than just the problem, will create a positive and more supportive work environment. The goal isn't to pretend everything is fine; it's to stop wallowing in negativity. Today’s Tip  Stop Telling Your Coworkers How Stressed Out You Are When we're stressed, we talk about it. ("Ugh, I have so much to do!") But sharing our anxieties, which makes us feel better in the moment, makes the people around us feel worse. Like a contagion, stress can spread. To manage yours better, and to spare your coworkers from catching it, change how you talk when you're frazzled. Don't just tell your coworkers you're stressed — tell them what you're doing about it. Will you stop checking email on weekends? Take more walks during lunch? Get more sleep? Whatever it is, make it part of the conversation. You can also ask coworkers what has worked for them in the past. Discussing strategies, rather than just the problem, will create a positive and more supportive work environment. The goal isn't to pretend everything is fine; it's to stop wallowing in negativity. This tip is adapted from “Making Sure Your Stress Isn't Contagious,” by Kristi Hedges Access the very best. With a HBR subscription, you'll get access to 50 of our best-selling articles and a wealth of content and resources, written by the world's leading business minds. View our subscription options Article What Makes a Leader by Daniel Goleman Skills and smarts matter, but emotional intelligence matters more. Subscribers have exclusive access to this and other leadership classics in our 50 best-selling articles collection. Become a better leader Book Good Charts Workbook: Tips Tools, and Exercises for Making Better Data Visualizations by Scott Berinato $35 Learn more Don’t forget you’re entitled to 20% off your first purchase* *Use promo code HBRORGREG3 View in browser Contact us Privacy policy Unsubscribe

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