Pressure at work and doing more and more – if the boss expects it, it can be frustrating for employees. How to deal with it.
Faster, further, better: Every company has goals that you want to achieve in a certain period of time. Some are more important than others. There are also goals that are very long-term and seem unattainable at first. In order to achieve the desired goals, projects and tasks must be fulfilled. Supervisors steer their employees on this path – but things can go wrong in the process.
Pressure to perform meets expectations: thoughts of fight-or-flight
If workers are expected to perform more and more, they can be overwhelmed. © Zoonar.com/Yuri Arcurs peopleimages.com/Imago
Not everything always runs smoothly at work. Sometimes there are conflicts that need to be resolved. This is certainly not pleasant, but the alternative would be a powder keg if criticism is swallowed again and again. Human instincts include, among other things, a triad: play dead, flee and attack. Those who pretend to be dead are not open to communication. Arbeitsabc.de informs that this may be due to excessive demands. When fleeing, people leave a conversation, which can happen with a proviso that you don't have time at the moment. In the case of an attack, this usually refers to the verbal level. It can happen that people are attacked on a personal level – five sentences, you should never say.
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Why bosses can have high expectations
- The big picture is not recognizable: Bosses usually see the big goals of the company – employees don't always see them, which can lead to excessive demands when the boss wants to enforce things.
- Stress due to staff shortages: When workers are absent, the burden falls on the remaining employees. More tasks lead to more time pressure, stress and less productivity.
- Challenges are intended to strengthen: Bosses want to motivate employees and challenge them to reach their potential. Can be well-intentioned, but it can also backfire quickly.
- Communication: The company's goals do not really reach the employees. They are either only half-informed, vaguely informed or not informed at all. In this way, there can be no understanding at the employee level.
Dealing with unrealistic expectations from bosses
Acting out of emotion is not a good idea. It is advisable to first calm down with various techniques and then make decisions with a clear head. For example, various breathing techniques in which you breathe into the abdomen can help. Other relaxation exercises, such as Qigong, a traditional Chinese method for body and mind, also provide support.
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What is also important for employees:
Knowing one's own limits and standing up for them is important for employees. You should definitely learn to say 'no'.
Employees should question the motives of the boss in order to be able to better assess him. A clarifying conversation can also provide support so that you can assess which tasks have particularly high priority. Regular feedback on one's own performance can also give employees peace of mind. If this is not already planned by the company, employees can also proactively approach superiors.
