3 Ways To Reduce Stress When Things Don't Go To Plan At Work

Be prepared for the times at work when things don't go plan....

The best laid plans, of mice and men, will often go astray - Robert Burns

Has this happened to you?  I was just about to start a workshop with a great training organisation recently and my lap top decided it was a good time to do updates!  A lesson learnt on improvisation.. It got me thinking in more ways than one. 
Life and work seldom runs according to plan and often throws a curved ball or two. How well we do in those circumstances will depend largely on our ability to adapt or improvise.
To reduce stress at these times, try the following:

1. Be flexible

Flexibility is evident in employees who easily adapt to changes in the workplace.  They are the ones who are willing to step outside of their job description should the situation require it and take on other tasks and responsibilities to accomplish organisational goals.
It works both ways of course.  Flexibility in managers is seen when staff are treated as people with different personalities who require different communication methods.  They will readily acquire the skills to recognise and utilise the divergent thinking and learning preferences of their staff.  
Flexibility in the workplace is a great asset. 

2. Be open to new ideas

It will help to honestly evaluate how open we are to the fact that our way of seeing things may not be the only way or necessarily the best way. 
People who are open to changing and adapting their ideas are more approachable and easier to work with because they are not rigid and stuck in mindsets.  They recognise and value the input and ideas of those around them and are always curious about other points of view.

3. Be accepting


It’s important to plan, but we create a lot of unnecessary stress for ourselves, when we respond negatively to a change of plan, whether that’s in life or work. 

It will save a lot of grief, if we accept the fact that things seldom go according to our best laid plans, as the poet Robert Burns discovered, but that doesn’t make what we do less valuable or meaningful.  

Learn from it and move on.  




Lyn Stephenson is a stress management specialist and holistic counsellor based in Melbourne, Australia.

Lyn provides workshops for organisations on the topics of stress, team communication, conflict resolution and difficult conversations. This training assists people and teams to be more effective and aids in employee wellness.

Follow and contact Lyn on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn for more tips and articles like this or to enquire about a workshop for your organisation. 

Location: Melbourne VIC, Australia

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