Top Tips for Supporting Stressed Staff and Volunteers
April is Stress Awareness Month and Top Tips Thursdays have been focusing on the impact of stress on individuals and workplaces.
This final issue for the month is a bumper issue covering the workplace – how to support staff and volunteers and how to promote wellbeing and psychological safety in the workplace.
Last time we explored small changes we can make to promote a life-work balance. This week we are focusing on developing personal resilience – the ability to bounce back during difficult times.
Here are your 40 Top Tips for Week Four
Top Tips for Supporting Stressed Staff and Volunteers
- Begin check‑ins with human questions – ask how people are with curiosity and genuine empathy.
- Notice shifts in tone or engagement.
- Offer private space to chat.
- Encourage slow breathing.
- Listen actively.
- Reflect back what you hear.
- Use I‑statements.
- Avoid information overload.
- Model calm communication.
- Encourage breaks.
- Normalise stress conversations.
- Help prioritise tasks.
- Check resources and clarity when delegating.
- Identify early warning signs.
- Signpost helpful tools and sources of support.
- Offer flexibility.
- Know when to signpost professionally.
- Follow up consistently.
- Celebrate progress.
- Create an appreciation culture.
Top Tips for Promoting Wellbeing and Psychological Safety in the Workplace
- Start meetings with check‑ins.
- Encourage speaking up.
- Model vulnerability.
- Recognise effort.
- Keep workloads fair.
- Share information clearly.
- Encourage breaks & movement.
- Promote autonomy.
- Provide wellbeing tools.
- Reduce unnecessary meetings.
- Cultivate a learning culture.
- Make space for appropriate humour.
- Encourage team connection.
- Address conflict early.
- Communicate respectfully.
- Provide restorative spaces.
- Offer peer support.
- Teach stress‑response awareness.
- Promote self‑care.
- Celebrate wellbeing successes.
As a manager or colleague, we can all play a part in creating a well-being culture in our workplace. Taking time to prioritise wellbeing and supporting staff and volunteers who feel stressed can save resources.
I hope you’ve found this series of simple Top Tips useful during Stress Awareness Week. I’d love to hear about any of the things you’ve tried out.
Discount Offer
During Stress Awareness Month I’m offering a 10% discount on my course Managing Stress and Promoting Wellbeing. The course provides practical tools and techniques to help people regain control of their life–work balance.
The discount is available throughout April, and the course can be delivered on any available date up to 31 July.
Book a Discovery Call for an informal, no obligation chat about your organisation and how I can support you
Over to You:
Release Your Potential
These are my thoughts and perspectives (I’m not necessarily right or wrong, simply starting a conversation).
So, what about your thoughts? What is YOUR perspective?
- Do any of these things ring true for you and can you picture yourself putting these tips into action?
- What would it look, sound and feel like if you put some of these tips into action – for you and others?
- What barriers might you come against when putting these tips/ideas into action? How might you overcome them?
- Who could give you support and how?
- Have you tried these tips and ideas out and, if so, what have you learned?
I’d love to hear your thoughts, reflections, gut reactions, perceptions, experiences and wisdom.
Remember that sharing our experiences can help others, so your thoughts and comments are always welcome.
