Balancing client demands and employee well-being: How can you prioritize without sacrificing success?

There is never a contradiction between client demand and employee well being. In any such conflict, employee well being always takes precedence. But the conflict is never between what is committed to the client and what is employee well being. It is always between unkept promise or slacking performance which needs to be recognised and addressed or unreasonable demand which needs to be communicated with the client. Slave driving employees, toxic culture, insensitivity to their special needs are roots of the conflict. Most clients are reasonable but when they are not, if the sales funnel is strong, there is enough confidence to walk out. Else one is stuck in a situation where there is conflict between client demands and employee well being.

We often think it's the big gestures, when actually it's important to check in with people on a day to day basis. A simple "how are you?" is great, even when you think you're too busy for the niceties and just need to get on with work. Take time to chat, especially when everyone is busy, because social interactions make us feel good and can calm and focus us so that we're better able to do our job after. Also get a meditation coach to come in regularly (we're available but of course it doesn't have to be us) - people who meditate become calmer, more resilient and more empathetic, so your team members will be more likely to spot the signs of stress in a colleague if they meditate regularly.

To balance client demands with employee well-being while ensuring success, start by keeping an eye on how stressed your team is. Regular check-ins and open conversations can help you spot stress early. Set realistic client expectations that consider your team’s capacity, and don’t shy away from negotiating deadlines if needed. Encourage your team to speak up about their workload and provide resources like stress management programs and flexible work options. Create a work culture that values both high performance and employee well-being. Regularly review and adjust project demands to keep everything in check. This way, you can keep both your clients and your team happy and healthy.

Na Gestão de Equipes no Serviço Público muitas vezes Gerenciar o Estresse da Equipe torna-se uma rotina constante. Existem limites institucionais e burocráticos que condicionam as relações de trabalho e a prioridade de cumprimento de Diretrizes. Como Interlocutora Municipal e atuando no gerenciamento de Equipes da Atenção Primária em Saúde, utilizo a Política de Educação Permanente como Estratégia de Articulação Participativa com minhas equipes, chamando-os a Gestão Participativa e Qualificação do Serviço ofertado envolvendo quem trabalha na construção das rotinas assistenciais. Isso reduz o estresse pois as Equipes se sente acolhidas e compartilham o poder da práxis e resolução dos problemas.

Stress is cyclical. From one system to the next, the stress may be carried from home to work and back home again. Find balance by providing well informed educational workshops that allow staff to comprehend the stresses they carry from one system to the next. The hope is by identifying and understanding, we can create appropriate preventive and add the most effective interventions when necessary.

Clear goals are the backbone of effective performance management. By establishing what needs to be achieved and by when, you provide your team with a roadmap to success. This clarity allows you to manage client expectations by setting realistic deadlines and deliverables. When employees understand their objectives, they can work more efficiently and with greater focus, which helps in managing both client demands and their own well-being.

Estabelecer metas claras é essencial para o bom desempenho em qualquer área. Tanto no Setor Privado como no Público, equipes que atuam sem Diretrizes claras perdem o propósito e atuam sem compromisso nos fins. A tendência da ausência de Metas é a perda do direcionamento. Se você almeja um bom desempenho para sua equipe construa o processo de trabalho com ela. Apresente o Plano de Metas como uma jornada a ser conquistada por todos os envolvidos, consolidando realização conjunta e sucesso da equipe. Demonstre à sua equipe que vocês estão fazendo história juntos e que ela faz parte desta busca e construção histórica.

The goal is know more than just the outcome, but the emotions associated with the specific outcome. This exercise allows us to connect with the goal and the emotional rewards of completion. Almost like a cheat code, I tell my clients to focus the celebration. Be specific in imagining the theme, people, music and more. The actions that take place in between you and reward destination will be that much smoother. Set goals, but also set emotional celebrations!

Um exemplo prático e cotidiano desta estratégia de comunicação é a articulação de informações oficiais pelos meios oficiais e posteriormente reforçados e esclarecidos por meios menos formais como em grupos de Trabalho de WhatsApp por exemplo. Utilizo este recurso para dar maior abertura e proximidade à minhas equipes. Me coloco a disposição para ajudar e esclarecer dúvidas e permito que tenham uma comunicação aberta e informal comigo, formalizando apenas questões que merecem formalidade.