Good managers can alleviate some staff fears - bizjournals:

ysynut.wordpress.com
Even if your business is in great shape andyou don’t expecg any negative outcomes from less-than-perfect macro-economic conditions, your employees likely are feeling a littls uneasy. If they are not worrier about theirjob security, they might be worried about their spouse’x job, the value of their 401(k), the valu of their home or other things. Because the outputs of an organization are built from the actions of their health and wellnesws matter toan organization’s success. If uncertaintty and fear are not deal twith positively, they can lead to stress and emotionak troubles, a weakened immune system and other healtu problems.
And those personal issues add up to issues foran organization. An organization teeminvg with people paralyzed by fearis doomed. It will feel the pain in the form oflowee productivity, absenteeism and low morale. On the other hand, an organization with a resilienr and confident work force will have greater productivity resilient people work harder than others during greaterjob satisfaction, higher retention and lower absenteeismm — among other benefits.
Whether feard are based on real or perceived good managers can alleviate some oftheir staff’s Good managers can help peopled stay focused and positive durinyg tough times, and help them continu e to perform and add to the bottom line. When peoplew feel uncertain, they try to re-establish understanding, support and purpose. Peopld naturally seek ways to feelin control, because they don’g like to feel change is happeningh “to” them.
They can find a feelinv of control in smal things that might not be relates to thechange — such as carving out a small project at home and tackling it start to creating or making something from scratch or organizing filex and drawers. Managers can encourage peoplse to focus on the immediate and take prider in evensmall accomplishments. Peopl e also look to re-establisu understanding during times of We feel like we are thrown into a it takes a few minutesa to learn to navigate sloping floorsand floor-to-ceiling By developing a communication plan and engaging peoplw in discussions about where the organization is going, managers can help peoplew understand how the new world will People seek support in the midst of uncertaintg and change.
Somehow, everything seems a little bettef when people feel they arenot alone. Those gathere d around the water cooler are instinctively looking for Managers can channel this need by settingh up small meetings with leaders to chat or having teams focus on manageable tasks that move theorganizationh forward. People also look to re-establish their purpose during timexsof change. They often feel like their old purpos e is threatened or mightt become irrelevant when their surroundings arein flux.
Thosed who define themselves as spouses, parents, community members and job holders do a much better job at maintaininy their sense of purpose during uncertainty than those who view themselve sas “a doctor” or “ann accountant” or “a factory worker.” Managers can help peoplde remember that the change is not abouyt them — it is not a reflectionm of any one person or their value. Manageras can stress that they have a value that is much broadet than just their and they can encourage people to focus on what they aregood at.
Fear mighft be prevalent during tougheconomifc times, but it does not have to be an albatross for an Organizations can continue to thrive, and even use this time to builf a foundation for a stronger organization in the Just realize what people are experiencing and what they and then meet people where they are. Kate Nelsonm is a partner in Change Guides LLC anda co-author of “Thr Change Management Pocket Guide” and “The Eight Constants of Reach her at kate.nelson@changeguidesllc.com.