FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tom Ellis
October 11, 2005 Ellis Communications, Inc.
Phone: (417) 881-5635
Email: tom@elliscomm.com
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Stress is one of those things in life that everyone
must deal with. But when telecom employees struggle to deal with stress, that
can have a negative impact on customer service.“The telecom
industry is always changing and change definitely results in stress,” says David
Saxby, president of Phoenix-based Measure-X, a company that specializes in
helping telephone companies improve their customer service and sales. “Telecom
employees need to learn to take care of themselves and work to keep stress
levels manageable.”
Saxby offers the following five tips for dealing with
stress and change.
Tip No. 1. Create stress-free zones during the
workday. “Set aside two 10-minute blocks of quiet time when you can give
yourself a mental health break,” Saxby says. “Take time to organize your
thoughts and activities for the day. Come to work 10 minutes early if
necessary. Give yourself another brief planning zone after your return from
lunch.”
Tip No. 2. Ask the right questions of the right
people. “Take responsibility for learning about any changes,” Saxby suggests.
“E-mail and memos are not your only source of information. Stay away from the
rumor mill as it often confuses the facts and increases your stress.”
Tip No. 3. Clean up your mess. “A mess can create
stress,” Saxby points out. “Organize your work area. Don’t get in the habit of
moving the same piles of paper around. If you must, stay late one night and go
through every item on your desk. Don’t go home until everything has been
tossed, filed, delegated or labeled. Leave your desk this way when you go
home. You will leave with a feeling of organization and structure and when you
arrive in the morning, you won’t immediately feel overwhelmed.”
Tip No. 4. Be accountable. “Are you taking
responsibility for work and problems that are not yours?” Saxby asks. “Ask the
following questions when you are barraged by requests from co-workers or your
boss.
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What is the actual deadline?
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What needs to get bumped in order to get this done? Ask
your boss where the new project belongs on your list of priorities.
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Who else needs to know about this new project?
Tip No. 5. Take care of yourself in order to cope
with changes in the workplace. Saxby suggests the following proactive steps.
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Drink lots of water and limit caffeine.
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Walk outside for at least 10 minutes every day – rain,
shine or snow.
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Let go of the problems that aren’t yours or are out of
your control.
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Laugh every chance you get. Look for humor everywhere,
even in tense situations.
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Focus on the positive aspects of changes and view them as
opportunities for personal career growth.
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Measure-X is a measurement, training and recognition company that specializes
in customer service and sales skills. For more information on Measure-X,
call 888-644-5499 or visit its Web site at www.measure-x.com.
