Recent studies on workplace dynamics, performance, and overall health have highlighted a growing concern on stress levels at all levels - particularly among HR functions and teams. Recently, the Sage group released a report that found a staggering 84% of HR leaders frequently experience stress while 81% report feelings of burnout. Despite these stats, 57% reported they greatly enjoy working in HR. (Sage, 2004).
Human Resources (HR) professionals are often seen as the backbone of any organization, managing everything from recruitment and employee relations to compliance and organizational culture. Not only do HR professionals manage the workforce, but they also have to ensure that they maintain a healthy work environment, comply with evolving regulations, and deal with conflicts—all of which can be incredibly stressful. The unique pressures faced by HR professionals require specialized strategies for stress management, and coaching—both individual and team-based—can play a pivotal role in addressing these challenges.
This article delves into how individual and team coaching can support HR professionals in managing workplace stress, the benefits of each approach, and practical examples of how they can be implemented effectively. We’ll also explore specifically how coaching techniques can be leveraged “in the moment” when faced with stressful work situations. Ultimately, we hope to inspire HR leaders to put their oxygen mask on first before helping others.
HR professionals operate in a high-pressure environment. Their role requires balancing the needs of employees, management, and legal requirements. The constant need to mediate conflicts, facilitate organizational changes, and manage employee grievances can lead to emotional exhaustion and burnout. Specific stressors for HR professionals often include:
- Constant conflict resolution: Mediation and handling interpersonal conflicts among employees or between employees and management is emotionally draining.
- High responsibility: HR is often the gatekeeper for legal compliance, organizational culture, and employee wellbeing, placing immense responsibility on their shoulders.
- Overwork: The unpredictable nature of HR tasks, such as dealing with sudden employee issues or legal matters, often leads to long hours.
- Emotional labor: HR professionals often absorb the emotional strain of others, leading to compassion fatigue.
Perhaps another critical note is the perpetual dissonance in HR and C-Suite organizational priorities. In 2024, HR professionals’ top three priorities were Talent Management, DEI Initiatives, and Employee Health and Wellbeing while C-Suite priorities were Talent Management, Financial Growth, and Efficiency and productivity (Sage 2024). Conflicting priorities often lead to a lack of motivation and meaning in work, not to mention continued conflict and tensions in gaining approval and support from senior leaders on critical initiatives.
Chronic stress in HR professionals can manifest in various ways:
- Burnout: Physical and emotional exhaustion can lead to detachment and a sense of ineffectiveness at work.
- Reduced productivity: Stress can impair cognitive functions like decision-making, leading to lower job performance.
- Health risks: Long-term stress increases the risk of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, as well as physical problems like hypertension and sleep disorders.
Given the multi-faceted stressors HR professionals face, targeted solutions like individual and team coaching can help professionals identify points of stress, devise an action plan to mitigate stressors, and even develop the capability to mitigate stress from compromising performance and health to promote overall well being. Next, we’ll explore how individual coaching can support HR professionals on their stress management journey.
Working with a certified, credentialed, and highly skilled Leadership Coach 1:1 allows HR professionals the space and focus they need to uncover where their stress derives and how they can overcome continual feelings of stress and overwhelm. Each person has a unique experience with stress which requires a unique and tailored approach in partnership with their coach. In fact, a recent study from the Global Wellness Institute found that 86% of participants in a coaching program were in high to moderate levels of stress at the start of their engagement which was reduced to 47% after just six hours of coaching (Carpenter, 2024).
For HR professionals, individual coaching can be a transformative process. The benefits of one-on-one coaching for stress management include:
- Personalized Support: HR professionals can explore specific stress triggers related to their roles, such as dealing with difficult employees or balancing work-life integration.
- Confidentiality: HR professionals often handle sensitive information, so having a confidential space to express frustrations and challenges without judgment is critical.
- Capability Development: Coaches can partner with HR professionals to develop stress management techniques, such as mindfulness, time management, and emotional intelligence.
- Resilience Building: Coaching supports HR professionals in establishing resilience by building strategies to manage adversity, adapt to changes, and maintain performance under pressure.
As mentioned, individual coaching is a highly unique and personalized source of professional development. That said, some of the more common development practices explored in coaching for stress management include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC): This method helps HR professionals identify negative thought patterns contributing to stress and reframe them into more positive, constructive ones.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Coaches may introduce mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) techniques to help HR professionals stay grounded in stressful situations.
- Time Management: Coaches help individuals prioritize tasks, delegate effectively, and set realistic expectations to reduce workload stress.
- Emotional Intelligence (EI): Developing emotional intelligence enables HR professionals to better manage their emotions and improve their interpersonal skills, reducing workplace tensions.
Team coaching for stress management involves working with a team to enhance team dynamics, improve communication, and collectively manage stress. Team coaching focuses on building trust, fostering collaboration, and equipping the group with tools to handle shared challenges, such as conflict resolution or organizational changes. In the context of HR, team coaching can strengthen the department’s ability to function cohesively under pressure.
Less than 10% of teams report that they are high performing and ready to tackle their workplace challenges (Sandahl, 2024) and 66% of HR professionals state they are worried about the future of the Human Resources industry (Saage, 2024). These points lend to the imperative and power of what team coaching is able to provide HR team members as it can be highly effective in fostering a supportive and stress-resilient work environment.
Key benefits of team coaching can include:
- Improved Communication: Team coaching helps HR teams enhance their communication skills, which reduces misunderstandings and tension.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Through coaching, HR teams can better understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, leading to more effective collaboration and reduced stress from team conflicts.
- Shared Learning: Team coaching provides an environment for shared learning where HR professionals can exchange strategies for managing stress and professional challenges.
- Unified Problem Solving: Instead of handling stress individually, HR teams can work together to address systemic issues in the organization that contribute to workplace stress.
Team coaching helps HR departments create a cohesive unit where all members feel more equipped to handle stress. It encourages a collective approach to problem-solving and stress management, ensuring that stress doesn't disproportionately impact a few individuals while others remain disengaged. For HR professionals, team coaching also promotes a shared sense of responsibility for workplace culture, which can help mitigate the stress of handling these issues alone.
Team Coaching has become more widely and successfully implemented in global organizations in recent years. Each team is unique and faces varied challenges which requires an approach that is customized to them. There are a few impactful techniques a certified group coach can leverage to help teams navigate such a difficult topic.
- Conflict Resolution Strategies: Team coaching equips HR professionals with techniques to facilitate conflict resolution within their team, as well as within the broader organization.
- Team Building Exercises: Activities that focus on trust, communication, and collaboration can reduce stress within HR teams by fostering a supportive work environment.
- Group Mindfulness Sessions: Incorporating mindfulness practices into team coaching sessions can help reduce collective stress and promote mental clarity in the department.
At Fluence, we believe there has never been a better time to engage in individual and team coaching as an HR professional. We curate our coaching experiences to ensure your team and you are able to develop healthy and effective strategies and techniques to mitigate even the most prevalent sources of stress. We encourage you to partner with us and our global and elite community of coaches to conquer your challenges and embrace the road ahead.
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