This topic may seem strange coming from our professional website design and development team, but we at Web 105 care greatly about the well-being of government agencies, healthcare providers, and nonprofits. We see the toll that operating a mission focused organisation can place on the shoulders of leadership and want to offer some quick help.
Around 15% of all Australians aged 16-85 years have very high or high levels of psychological distress. Add on top of the stress of running a nonprofit, and things get a little hairy too quickly. Here are some of the ways we know to help lower your stress so you can manage, lead, and contribute to your NFP.
1 – Cultivate Compassion
It may seem counterintuitive, but allow people on your team to look at mistakes being made without the sting of criticism. If everyone is walking around your NFP feeling a defeated sense of well-being, they cannot feel empowered to succeed and innovate. No one needs to be too hard on themselves. Instead, cultivate a sense of learning from mistakes so people feel positive about growing instead of sticking to rigid rules.
2 – Add Perspective
As the leader, you need to create a sense of the “bigger picture.” While a setback in one fundraising campaign may feel overwhelming, the bigger picture may show you are well above last year’s goals. Keeping the ship pointed in the right direction while reminding your team of the overarching mission of your NFP ensures you don’t fall into the trap of the “death from a thousand” smaller cuts.
3 – Build Routines
Heavy workloads, constant deadlines, and endless client communication all create stress. Even the most die-hard volunteer on your team needs a break every now and then. Create routines where the “pressure” of running your NFP is shared among everyone. Not only will this help individuals feel connected to the health of your business, but it will also ensure cross-training in different skills to balance workloads.
4 – Take Breaks
Do not let anyone miss a break. Those 10-15 minutes to get outside, have a cool drink or healthy snack, and maybe just chat with coworkers is like a breath of fresh air. Fatigue can and will creep up on you when you least expect it. These quick breaks help fight fatigue and refresh your team, making stress more manageable.
5 – Focus on Progress – Not Perfection
The goal of your NFP is to make progress toward your mission. Reaching that goal is going to require making mistakes, using convoluted solutions, and sometimes having a patchwork of help from different donors, volunteers, and employees. Focus on the beauty of the journey, not on perfecting every single detail. The beauty of success often comes from the survival scars on your business that make it so durable.
6 – Show Appreciation
Your people are working hard. An excellent way to combat stress and make them feel part of the team is through appreciation. Announce birthdates, schedule company picnics, have award ceremonies, and create the context that your business places immense value on the people helping you reach mission-oriented goals. Even something as simple as a handwritten thank you note can make all the difference when a worker is feeling overwhelmed or lost in their daily functions.
7 – Communicate
A great deal of stress comes from not knowing what is about to happen. When a team member is trying to accomplish a goal, but they do not know how that affects the rest of the NFP, it causes stress. Allow smooth communication between all your team members, volunteers, stakeholders, and donors. Have tech-specific functions like social media, internal emails, digital bulletin boards, and more so that everyone feels on the same page and is not concerned with things that do not matter.
8 – Ask for Help
Not everyone can ask for help. Your role as the leader includes asking others for help so they see that it is acceptable and expected. Even the most niche NFPs built on the passions of a single person require outside help. That help is what drives your organisation’s success. Just be sure people are pulling their fair weight and not relying solely on the help of others. It is a careful balance.
9 – Allow a Healthy Environment
Flexible work hours, comfortable break rooms, local gym memberships, and even tips on getting proper sleep all help your team stay healthy. A well-balanced individual who isn’t focused on the American “rat race” is more likely to manage stress. While it may not be your job to care for their direct health, you can support healthier habits that empower individuals to manage more difficult tasks.
Conclusion
Stress is a genuine issue. It can overwhelm the mind and cause unpleasant habits to creep up and get in the way of your NFP and its mission. Everyone is susceptible to higher stress levels, and no one should feel judged for feeling overwhelmed now and then.
As the leader, you need to help manage stress levels, so people feel motivated to pursue team goals, but not like the success of the business rests solely on their shoulders.
At Web 105, we help alleviate some of your stress by building smooth, clean, and mobile-responsive websites. This way, you have more time to focus on the interpersonal relationships of your team and donors and less time trying to rework your digital presence. Call us today and leave the stress of your online presence in our professional and experienced hands.
FAQs
How to effectively manage stress?
Everyone manages stress differently. How you help in a leadership role differs from what works for the individual. Do your best to encourage a healthy lifestyle and working environment with effective communication and a culture of asking for help.
How do you handle stress in work?
It helps to identify what is triggering your stress responses. Once you understand those stressors, you can begin to set up boundaries around your work lifestyle, so they no longer dictate your reactions.
How to lower stress as a boss?
Keep your tone calm, neutral, and professional. Find a way to develop relationships with everyone you work with so you share common ground. Ask for feedback and be open to the needs of your team so they feel heard and appreciated.