How to Support Your Spouse If Work Is Stressing Them Out

Even if you find it easy to leave your worries at the office, your spouse or partner may not. How can you help them cope with work stress? For starters, really listen. When your partner gets home and begins telling you about an office frustration, don’t “half listen” while you do the dishes or make dinner. Stop, pay attention, and empathize. Sometimes they may just want to vent; other times they may want your advice. If you’re unsure what they need from you, ask. You can offer advice — but be gentle about it. Say something like, “I have a suggestion for that problem. Can I share it?” And if you get the sense that your partner is misreading a situation at the office, ask nonthreatening questions to learn more: “What makes you think that’s the case?” Whatever you do, never compare your spouse’s stressful day with your own. Stress endurance is not a competition.

Adapted from "How to Help Your Spouse Cope with Work Stress," by Rebecca Knight

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Helping an Employee Who’s Struggling with Postpartum Depression

Going back to work is tough for any new parent, but the transition is especially difficult for those suffering from postpartum depression. (Remember, postpartum depression affects both women and men.) If you manage someone who has recently had a baby, pay close attention to how they’re doing — a parent’s struggle doesn’t always show on the outside. Some people may overcompensate by working too hard, while others may show a loss of enthusiasm. Familiarize yourself with the services your firm offers — which may include groups for working parents, health care coverage for counseling, or post-natal yoga or meditation classes — so that you can help your employee access support. Offer options such as flex time, telecommuting, gradual return, or peer mentoring. In fact, it’s a good idea to offer these things to all team members so that the new parent doesn’t feel singled out. Find ways to make supporting employees and their mental health part of your culture. Adapted from " What Managers...

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If Your Team Is Overwhelmed, What Can They Stop Doing?

Project overload is real. But as a leader, it can be hard to tell whether your team needs more resources or just could be working more efficiently. Start by asking people to identify their key activities and how much time they spend on them in a typical week. Use that data to assess workloads and priorities. Consider which tasks the team could stop doing and which might benefit from having their process rethought. Pay special attention to low-value projects that have to get done but that take up an inordinate amount of time. Are there ways to simplify the workflows to reduce the amount of time your team spends in these areas? And last but not least, look for tasks that simply can be done more quickly. If your team is still struggling after these steps, it might be time to hire more people. Adapted from “What to Do If Your Team Is Too Busy to Take On New Work,” by Dutta Satadip

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