Uncover the hidden costs of technology in the workplace and find out simple ways to get back on track – while increasing overall productivity. To help fight this increasingly prevalent predominant technostress epidemic, this all-encompassing guide achieves that too.
Loosening the Grip of Technostress
The growing number of notifications, emails, and digital distractions are the most common cause of stress among modern professionals living in a world where information moves at a breakneck speed. Rife with this state of ‘technostress’, productivity is lost and resources are spent on futile activities – at the cost of mental tranquillity.
A recent scholarly article and study published in MIS Quarterly stated that as an organisational construct, technostress is a multifaceted problem which requires understanding solutions are not likely to be one size fits all. Chadron — The study, led by University of Colorado Boulder Professor Jason Thatcher, asserts that digital stressors can multiply and gain momentum ultimately resulting in burnout, job satisfaction issues and disruption of workflow.
The research meticulously lists five main ways technostress prevents an employee’s efficacy and well-being desired levels: too much information, always “beeing” connected, high technological complexity of the task, worklife spillover and a loss of control. When these are not taken care of, it can form a perfect storm for high stress levels and well-being of the workforce.
How To Help Managers Fight The Threat Of Technostress
In their final analysis, the MIS Quarterly authors underscore that dealing with technostress is complex and cannot so easily be resolved by employers or regulators alone. Thatcher, who co-authored the study, cautioned that “a ‘one size fits all’ rule like not emailing on weekends isn’t going to do it because work is a complicated business and that approach would solve one or two parts without dealing with underlying issues.”
Instead, the authors propose that managers need to address technostress more holistically and strategically. They must evaluate the different digital stressors affecting their employees and approach them holistically as a cohesive group rather than individually.
If employees are flooded with emails on Monday, an absolute of no weekend email should not be the solution. Rather, managers could help their team improve time management skills (booking Saturday mornings to check emails, for example) so that when employees do return there’s not a deluge of work awaiting them.
The study also underscores the need to enable employees with the right tools coupled with flexibility to steer their way through digital workload efficiently. This is, in essence, a way to empower employees — helping them feel less bombarded and besieged by technology.
Conclusion
Overcoming the workplace technostress will require a multi-faceted approach that includes strategic management, supporting employees to adapt to these digital stresses, and taking an holistic view of the societal impact in which this stress occurs [sic]. Organizations can work to tackle the challenge from different directions, resulting in a better (and more productive) work environment where employees are able to flourish at both work and at home. Inculcating these strategies not only results in an improved job-satisfaction and performance level but also aids in the overall well-being of the workforce, which eventually makes it a strong organization to adapt continuously with upcoming digital changes.
