When Silence Can Create a Storm at Work
It’s 5:15 PM. An employee sends a message to a colleague to confirm tomorrow’s meeting. Minutes pass, but there is no response. Anxiety begins to set in. Thoughts spiral: "Have I done something wrong? Is she mad at me? Maybe she doesn’t want to collaborate anymore?" This leads the employee to check their phone repeatedly and struggle to concentrate on work tasks.
Relationship Anxiety: More Than Just a Message
This situation is not uncommon in workplaces. What may seem like an unanswered message can quickly develop into feelings of uncertainty and fear of rejection. The heart races, breathing becomes shallow, and thoughts race. This is a stress response triggered by a stored expectation – a belief that silence is a sign of danger.
This stored expectation often stems from past experiences and can affect team well-being and productivity. When employees carry such uncertainties, it can lead to reduced work capacity and increased absenteeism.
StoppStress: Train Down the Stress Response
The StoppStress program is an effective tool to help employees understand and manage these automatic stress responses. Here are some ways the program can be implemented in the company:
1. Trigger Mapping:
Using the Harmoni app, employees can map out situations that trigger stress. What was the specific trigger (the unanswered message)? What thoughts and feelings arose? By becoming aware of these patterns, employees can begin to break them.
2. StoppStress Exercise:
When anxiety arises, employees can use the StoppStress exercise in Harmoni. By focusing on the feeling in the body, without fleeing, and breathing calmly and deeply, they can learn to calm the nervous system.
3. Change Beliefs:
By using Harmoni's "Awareness Process," employees can challenge the stored expectations. Is it really true that a delayed message means rejection? Perhaps the colleague has been busy with other tasks. The AI guidance in Harmoni helps explore these questions and find more realistic thoughts.
4. Micro-Training:
Employees can practice alternative responses to stress. Instead of continuously checking their phone, they might decide to wait an hour and use the time to focus on work. This is a form of exposure that can change the emotional response over time.
Take Back Control
Relationship anxiety can be exhausting and detrimental to both self-esteem and team dynamics. By understanding that this is about stored expectations, employees can begin to take back control. StoppStress provides the tools needed to train down the stress response and create new, positive expectations.
Start with one trigger that employees recognize, and use Harmoni to train for new outcomes. What stored expectation does your company want to challenge today?
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Do You Want to Reduce Absenteeism in Your Company?
The StoppStress program uses memory reconsolidation to provide employees with lasting tools against stress. Read more at stoppstress.no →