The Rise of Work Separation Anxiety

The Rise of Work Separation Anxiety With UK sick leave reportedly the lowest on record, we could be fooled in thinking the modern workforce is healthier than ever. However, the reality is almost two-thirds of employees have worked during their annual leave or when unwell. These alarming statistics are contributing to the rise in a growing epidemic Work Separation Anxiety. Understanding the problem These days it can be difficult for employees to fully switch-off from work. Thanks to online file-sharing platforms and email access on phones, employees get caught up in work, even when away from the office. Although this isn’t necessarily a problem on its own â€" and can be positive for facilitating flexible working benefits â€" it becomes an issue when work becomes all-consuming and starts to take a negative toll on employees’ health. Staff end up taking work home with them in the evenings and replying to emails all weekend, without taking a proper break. This not only creates an unhealthy relationship with work but can translate into their  personal lives, putting a strain on relationships and exacerbating other health issues. As a result, employees burn out, with exhaustion and mental fatigue impacting their lives and work. Burnout is now even a recognized medical condition, defined by the World Health Organisation â€" so, why is it becoming such a big problem? Common Causes Work Separation Anxiety is an unsurprising result of the growing expectations in today’s workforce. The distinction between work and personal life is becoming increasingly blurred, with many employees expected to deal with work issues and check emails outside the office. Many aiming to get ahead in their careers also believe one of the key ways to do so is being ‘on call’ at all times, but this responsibility can be draining. Employees remain in a heightened state of stress for too long at the expense of their health. The pattern is cyclical, with overworking causing poor health, and poor health has a knock-on effect on their performance at work. Employers can play their part in minimizing employee burnout by working with staff to ensure they understand their responsibilities, for example knowing their contracted hours and that they shouldn’t be regularly exceeding them. The  European Court of Justice  recently ruled staff should not be working more than the 48-hour maximum work week and should take proper rest breaks. For businesses, it’s not just a matter  of decency anymore, but a legal requirement to ensure staff aren’t overworking. Spotting the signs It’s unlikely many employees suffering from Work Separation Anxiety would open up to colleagues about their struggles, for the same reason they’re overworking in the first place. They may feel they’ll be seen as weak or their managers will lose respect for them. So, it’s important line managers are trained to spot signs and symptoms of overworking in colleagues to be able to offer help. Common signs may include failure to delegate tasks, canceling annual leave or working while on leave, plus persistently working from home outside work hours. Making occasional adjustments to fit in work isn’t a cause for concern, especially for those in more senior roles, where it may be required from time to time. But employers and managers should be able to identify signs when these behaviors are negatively impacting employees. There may be physical symptoms like tiredness and headaches, plus changes in usual behavior, like a short temper or unproductiveness. A study even found persistent stress stopped the body from properly regulating the inflammatory response of cortisol, meaning over-workers are more susceptible to colds and illness. If you spot these signs in an employee and are worried about their health, take them aside for an informal chat and let them know you’ve noticed some behavioral changes. Ask them if they’re okay and if there’s anything you can do to help relieve some of their work stresses. Try to create a culture of openness, where employees feel they can share their feelings and talk openly about any work or personal struggles they’re facing. It might be the first step towards realizing they need to make positive changes. Support systems Successful support comes from company-wide buy-in, starting from the very top. If employees see senior managers taking full lunch breaks and sticking to their 9-5 routine, they’ll be more inclined to follow suit, as they know they won’t be seen differently. Look for training courses which address symptoms and solutions for overworking and make sure managers are educated on how to address these with their colleagues. Employers offering support to those dealing with Work Separation Anxiety need to consider which interventions will help struggling employees. Speak to your employees to understand why they’re struggling to disconnect from work and ask what adjustments you can make to relieve some of the pressure they’re feeling. This may include re-scheduling some of their workloads so they’re not taking work home with them or having to work weekends to meet deadlines. Consider inviting a stress management expert into the office to share tips on how to switch off outside of work hours. Most importantly, think about how your workplace may be contributing to the problem. Do you have international clients who require employees to check emails during the evening because of the time difference? Making simple changes like offering more flexible shifts may help employees build a healthier work-life balance. Making the changes is a positive start, but employees need to know about your initiatives and how they can take advantage of them. Make regular contact with the staff however they prefer to receive company information â€" like email, in person or over the phone â€" and emphasize the programs readily available and their advantages. Once you’ve started to notice positive changes, implement ways to measure the effectiveness of your new policies. Combining hard and soft measures, like recording sickness absence and handing out satisfaction surveys will help you review employee buy-in. About the author:   Jenni Wilson is a Corporate Director at  Nuffield Health. She oversees enhancing client relationships, growing new business, and building Nuffield Health’s connected health strategy for its corporate clients. During her time with Nuffield Health Jenni has been responsible for the organization’s corporate fitness accounts and clinical services, such as physiotherapy and occupational health.

Dont Be Shy Brand Building for Introverts - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Dont Be Shy Brand Building for Introverts - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career There is little doubt that building a personal brand goes a long way in establishing your career or business. However, for people who are shy or are prone to social anxiety, many of the strategies suggested in brand building, such as attending networking events or public speaking, can be stressful. Here are tips to building a personal brand for the shy and socially anxious. Connect online Social networking is a cost effective and time efficient way to reach out and connect with influencers, but it’s also a low-stress option for people who are shy. Unlike in-person networking, online networking allows you the time to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it. You don’t have the additional stress that can go with thinking on your feet and worrying about making a great impression. A study published in CyberPsychology Behavior, indicated that social media and online chat offers people who are socially anxious a “low-risk social approach and opportunity to rehearse social behavior and communication skills.” The study further suggested that building relationships online could lead to improved interaction offline in face-to-face situations. Be prepared It’s true that practice makes perfect, or at least, it can increase your confidence and improve performance. One form of practice is through social media, where you can create, memorize and deliver your brand message. But you don’t live in a digital world, so you should study and practice sharing your brand statements in work or business. The idea is that when someone asks about your work, you can effortlessly deliver an answer, without stumbling or feeling anxious. Find allies Even extroverts can find it difficult to toot their own horns, so it must be doubly so for shy people. And when you consider that third-party testimonials are more powerful than horn-tooting, you can see the advantage of finding others who can speak about you. Allies can vouch for your work, provide guidance, and help you prepare and practice delivering your brand message. Take one small step frequently You have to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you run. Stepping outside your comfort zone is no different. That means, you don’t have to force yourself to speak in public to overcome your anxiety or shyness. Start small by sharing feedback in a meeting or asking a question at a seminar. Challenge yourself to take one small step outside of your comfort zone everyday to practice and build your confidence. Overtime, you’ll build your social confidence to the point where you can network in person or speak in public. If you’re an introvert, you’re in good company. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are just two of many famous and successful introverts. While you may not cure yourself completely from shyness, like Gates and Buffet, you can overcome it enough to build a brand that leads to a successful career or business.

Personal Branding Interview Peter Dunn - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Branding Interview Peter Dunn - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Today, I spoke to Peter Dunn, who   is an expert financial planner, award-winning comedian and author of 60 Days to Change: A Daily How-To Guide With Actionable Tips for Improving Your Financial Life.   In this interview, Peter goes over how he positioned himself in the crowded financial expert market, how hes blended two very important aspects of his personal brand, why social media is important to his business and more. You position yourself as “the answer to finance as usual”â€"what is it about your personal brand that separates you from what one would usually think of when imagining a finance guy? In other words, how do you keep personal finance accessible (and not boring)? There has always been an interesting dynamic between the financial industry and those it serves. The financial industry, in my opinion, uses many dirty tricks to “serve” its clientele. These dirty tricks are selling on fear and greed. I don’t employ either of those techniques. It has become unprofitable for the financial industry to actually help people learn money skills. This both disheartens and motivates me. I remain accessible by giving advice from a peer advising perspective. People don’t generally like talking about money because they immediately start worrying about where they stack up in the world’s financial hierarchy. I try to be more disarming and to eliminate insecurities so the people I work with will be in a better position to address their shortcomings and better their financial situations. The same thing goes for the new book and the TV series of the same name. Clearly there are hundreds of financial books already out there but 60 Days to Change comes in from a very different vantage point. I tried to address a series of smaller issues that people are often embarrassed to ask for fear of showing their poker face, I guess you could say. Intimidation is a tactic that shouldn’t, but tends to be, associated with finances. With the launch of GreenCandy.com, you came onto the scene as the “Gen Y finance” expert. Why do you think this has worked for you and why has it taken so long for somebody to do it? The financial services industry doesn’t really induce or encourage creativity. I fought through years of compliance issues, and people saying I shouldn’t “go for it.” “No” is a terrible word. I took the time to figure out how to get my message across, yet not get in trouble with industry regulation. This was a very challenging process, and it was even more challenging given my age. (I’m also a Gen Y-er, which might explain why this niche works for me and why I was one of the first to address this audience directly. We just get each other.) In addition to being a financial expert, you’re also a stand-up comedian. How do these two sides fit together to create “Pete the Planner”? Comedy is all about forming an instant relationship with your audience. And good branding and messaging does just that. On stage, you have about 10 seconds to earn the trust and respect of the people who just paid for you to make them laugh. There are rules to comedy. If you know the rules, then you can succeed. When it comes to personal financesâ€"and, in particular, poor financial situationsâ€"it often helps if people approach their situations with a certain level of self deprecation. It’s kind of like, “If I weren’t laughing right now, I’d probably be crying, so keep the comedy coming.” I try to lead by example. Not with the poor financial situation, but with the self-deprecation (and the receding hairline). You have a bunch of followers on Facebook, you have a Facebook fanpage, you’re on Twitter, and you send out a newsletter updating followers about news and appearances. Which of these platforms provides the most bang for your social-media buck, and how do you communicate your personal brand in a consistent, cohesive way across these various platforms (or do you)? As a friend once told me, Facebook is for carrying on a conversation with people that you do know, and Twitter is to converse with people you don’t. I’ve since got into the habit of structuring my communications accordingly. Facebook allows me to share multi-media content on a very user-friendly platform. My ultimate goal is to drive people from Twitter and other platforms over to Facebook since it allows for a more intimate conversation (or at least it seems that way). I guess that’s to say Facebook is my preferred means of social media. Have you figured out the formula that keeps your audience coming back for more? What has been your biggest challenge in selling yourself? Success? The key is to sell yourselfâ€"not to sell stuffâ€"and selling yourself is all about authenticity. Of course, the idea of being authentic is becoming a cliché to people in the branding world, but nevertheless there are still so many people who have trouble actually pulling it off. And I get itâ€"it’s hard to think of yourself as being good enough, or being a “marketable product,” just the way you are. But once I realized that being myself was the key to success, I started seeing my audience and my brand grow, and new opportunities beginning to present themselves. Plus, it’s a lot easier (trust me, it’s really hard to try to be someone else). So once you’ve committed to just being yourself, the next thing you’ll find is that you’ll begin only working on projects that reflect you. And this results in only producing the best products, or whatever, in your power. It’s like a reverse domino effectâ€"things keep getting better from that point on. I highly recommend it! As for my formula for success… I’d say that because I’ve seen my brand grow in direct proportion to the amount of my true personality I’ve injected into it, that it’s something like: Your Brand + Your True Personality = Your Authentic Brand. And of course, being authentic is the key to success… Peter Dunn a.k.a. Pete the Planner is an expert financial planner. Peter is an award-winning comedian and rising star in the financial world. Named one of “Indy’s Best and Brightest” in finance in 2007 by KPMG, Peter was also declared one of NUVO magazine’s “30 under 30 to Watch in the Arts” for comedy. Peter is the author of What Your Dad Never Taught You About Budgeting (2006), the host of the popular radio show Skills Your Dad Never Taught You on News Talk 1430 (WXNT) and creator of 60 Days to Changeâ€"a nine-week program developed in participation with Indianapolis’s WISH-TV and sponsored by Toyota. He blogs regularly at www.petetheplanner.com/blog.   His latest book is called 60 Days to Change: A Daily How-To Guide With Actionable Tips for Improving Your Financial Life.