Let’s start by considering the sources of pressure in teams. It can come from within (instrinsic pressure) or from outside (extrinsic pressure). Some typical examples are:
Intrinsic sources
Conflict between team members
A sense that not everyone is pulling their weight equally
Lack of clarity about job roles or direction
Lack of co-operation, communication or knowledge sharing
Poorly organised workflows or environment.
Extrinsic sources
Increased demands without adequate resources or planning of those resources
Reduced income creating internal cost pressures
Customer and stakeholder requirements
Increased competition
Uncertainty about future services, either because of the transitioning of funding within the national contract or because local commissioned services were squeezed while the focus was on Covid-19.
You may have other pressures and potential pressures on your list, but the takeaway point here is that there will always be multiple intrinsic and extrinsic reasons why pressure may build up in your team. So how do you deal with this situation in a professional and considered manner?
Let’s begin by looking at one of the saddest consequences of unmanaged and unchecked pressure – low employee morale.
