What advice would you give to a colleague who was stressed out?
"I track my stressors and then visit them on a regular basis. I will write them down on a note in my phone and then at the end of the day, or the week; I will try to track the regular offenders. Once I can pinpoint the stressors that occur too regularly, I make a plan to eliminate or at least alleviate them. If I had a colleague, who was stressed out I would share that method with them and help them to implement it if they were interested."
"I would share the best advice that I have ever received, about stress management. I would advise my colleague to create a list of healthy responses that could be carried out at work. For instance, going for a quick breath of fresh air, running the stairs for 5 minutes, or taking a coffee break. Sometimes just stepping away or giving yourself a distraction is very helpful."
"To help a colleague deal with stress, I would recommend that they take the time needed to recharge. It is surprising how many people do not turn their phone off ever, in an entire week, or take the vacation time to which they are entitled. Sometimes a change of pace can fix so many feelings of stress and overwhelm."
"I would tell my colleague that talking it out can help a lot. I think that if something is bothering you, you should talk to a manager or supervisor as soon as possible. Stress can become elevated when a situation is allowed to brew and grow."
"Learning how to take things in stride is a skill I am proud to have. I like to remain emotionally neutral when a situation arises so that I can assess and make a plan, with a level head. So, if a colleague were dealing with high amounts of stress, I would begin there."
"Our team of teachers and educators are a significant source of support to one another. If a colleague were stressed out, I would take the time to ask them how I can best support them during their stressful time. Sometimes, all it takes is a simple reminder that you are not alone."
Being able to handle stress is one skill but being able to talk your colleagues off the ledge, during their peak times of stress, is an entirely different skill. Discuss with the interviewer what you would say or do to help a coworker cope with stress.
"If I had a colleague who was stressed out I would recommend that they look at the factors that regularly stress them out, and create some boundaries surrounding those stressors. Perhaps a colleague keeps interrupting them, resulting in missed deadlines. These distractions need boundaries so I would start there."
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