Listen to Joanne on the Radio
Dr. Joanne Sujansky will be interviewed on an upcoming radio program on Sunday, December 10, 2006 from 6:00 – 6:30 a.m. Listeners in the Pittsburgh area can hear Joanne’s interview by tuning to 93.7 FM (K-Rock), 107.9 FM (Y108) or 100.7 FM (Star 100.7).

Did you know the world's first Ferris Wheel was located in Pittsburgh?
It was built by Pittsburgh Bridge Builder George W. Ferris in 1893! That and 249 other reasons to love Pittsburgh are featured in Dr. Joanne G. Sujansky's new book Pittsburgh Will Steel Your Heart. It's not only a great gift for friends and family members; it's a unique business tool as well. Use it to reward employees, wow prospective hires, or to send a big Steel City "thank you" to clients and customers. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself, too. It's a great way to discover (or rediscover) Pittsburgh's best-kept secrets! To learn more about this unique book, visit http://www.pittsburghwillsteelyourheart.com

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Watch Out for "Holiday Rage" (and those other rages)
These are turbulent times and it seems that we hear more and more about ordinary people losing control under stress. We've all heard stories in the news of road rage, air rage, and domestic rage. Now it seems that experts are finding other types of rage erupting in these tense days.

For example, MSNBC recently presented a story about co-workers becoming overwhelmed by office stress ("Desk rage: Workers Gone Wild," by Jacqueline Stenson, Nov 27, 2006). The symptoms of "Desk Rage?" Angry employees screaming, cursing, trashing desks, and committing other violent acts (including physical assaults) in the office. There's little hard data about how common "Desk Rage" is becoming, but our own research shows that nearly one out of five employees suffers from unnecessary job stress. Now, with year-end holidays approaching employee stress levels are reaching epidemic proportions.

Apparently we're not even safe from rage on the Internet. In Great Britain, officials claim to have the first case of "Web Rage" ("Virtual rage and a pickaxe handle ends in reality of jail," by Bobbie Johnson, Manchester Guardian, November 18, 2006). A confrontation arose between two Englishmen engaged in a Yahoo chat room on religion. When the disagreement became angry, one of the chat participants challenged the other to a confrontation, drove 70 miles to meet his opponent and ended up getting arrested for assault. Of course this is (hopefully) an isolated case.

But now experts are beginning to talk about something called "Holiday Rage." In a report by ABC news, ("How the Happiest Season Can Spur Holiday Rage," ABC News, Nov. 26, 2006). It just makes sense, what with long lines, huge shopping lists, big traffic jams, crowded parking lots, and surly sales clerks. These are just a few of the many causes of "Holiday Rage" and we've already heard stories of shoppers battling over hard-to-find video games. It isn't hard to understand how the holidays can add pressure to our already busy lives. Read on for tips to reduce employee stress this holiday season and into the New Year.

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"I don't suffer from stress. I am a carrier." - Dilbert (by Scott Adams)

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Overwhelmed Employees and Holiday Stress
So how will the approaching holiday season affect employee stress levels? It's a safe bet that your already tense staff members will be more edgy than usual. You can expect "fuses" to be shorter and employee conflicts to simmer closer to the surface. In some offices, the added stress of year-end projects - such as inventories, performance reviews, goal setting, and accounting procedures - can create an extremely volatile environment. The savvy manager will take these factors into consideration and take extra steps to help employees cope withthe demands of the season:

1. Make your expectations clear - Don't let the hustle and bustle of the season get in the way of organizational goals. Remind your people to keep the most important priorities in sight and, if necessary, set goals and timelines for wrapping up the final projects of the year.
   
2. Look for ways to balance workloads - Make sure that year-end tasks are evenly distributed. Splitting up end-of-season jobs, like inventory or record-keeping, can make the chore easier and lessoverwhelming for everyone. Scheduling less critical tasks to the New Year may also help to reduce overall stress levels.
   
3. Increase seasonal staff, as necessary - If your organization typically experiences a big push at year end (retail is a prime example of this) bringing in temporary or seasonal workers may be the best way to meet your goals and help everyone maintain an even keel.
   
4. Guard against burnout -- During the holidays it's not unusual to find employees skipping lunch, eating at their desks, or working late hours. Stress-filled, burned out employees aren't much good to you (and not much good to their families) at this time of the year. Adhere to lunch and break schedules and make sure your people are taking care of themselves despite the stress.
   
5. Allow employees some flexibility - The end of the year places plenty of outside demands on your employees. After they burn the midnight oil, give them some free time to run errands, attend schoolevents, or make phone calls will relieve some of their stress (and win you some points in their eyes).

For more ideas on coping with workplace stress during the holidays (or at any other time of the year), take a look at our eBook Motivate Your Employees and Make Your Workplace Come Alive at http://www.howtomotivateanemployee.com/.

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"My dad used to say that the holidays are when you get a whole bunch of people that really aren't that close and don't know each other that well and overcrowd them into a small room for an extended period of time so they can make each other miserable." - Dr. Phil McGraw

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Your Chance to Shine Like a Star
Helping your employees get through the holiday season with a minimum of stress should pay big dividends in increased productivity. By showing that you care, and by taking steps to alleviate some of their pressures, employees won't hesitate pitching in with year-end chores, making seasonal goals and tackling tough challenges. Don't be surprised if you see your people showing up a little earlier, staying a little later and caring a little more during the season. After all, the holidays are also a sentimental time for most people. A time when people are often a bit friendlier and more generous. Why not seize the opportunity to build a little good will that may spill over into the New Year?

The holidays can be a true test of any employee team's ability to function under added pressure. For a Vibrant Entrepreneurial Organization, however, workplace stress is also an opportunity to keep faith with employees by minimizing stress ... as well as showing the new face of loyalty. Why let seasonal demands bring you down when instead they can lift you and your people to new heights?

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