Navigating Work-Life Balance: A Candid Conversation on Stress in the Workplace with Tom Wadelton

“In the American workplace, 80% of workers feel stress on the job, and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. If your people are stressed and they're not talking to you about it, that's a clue that you need to change something in your organization.” – Joey Kinney

The finer details of this episode:

• Stress management in the workplace and at home
• Challenges of setting boundaries and prioritizing tasks in work-life balance
• Impact of stress on personal lives and managing competing interests
• Role of leaders in addressing recurring structural problems contributing to stress

Episode resources:

• Summit Virtual CFO by Anders website: https://www.summitcpa.net/
• Email us with questions or if you’d like to be a guest on the show: youngcpasuccessshow@anderscpa.com
• We’re hiring! Check out our open positions: https://www.summitcpa.net/career-opportunities
• For more on David Allen’s Getting Things Done® approach mentioned in the episode, check out the Modern CPA Success Show’s episode with Tom and David Allen: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-things-done-with-david-allen/id1485035727?i=1000595997191

Timestamps:

The podcast introduction (00:00:00)

Introduction to the podcast and its purpose.

Discussing the intention of merging podcasts (00:00:33)

Exploring the idea of merging podcasts to create intentional opportunities for audiences to interact.

The impact of stress in the workplace (00:01:04)

Exploring the impact of stress on individuals in the workplace and the need for stress management.

Challenges in managing work-life balance (00:03:07)

Challenges in compartmentalizing work and home life, and the evolving understanding of work-life balance.

Statistics on workplace stress (00:04:52)

Statistics on workplace stress, including the percentage of workers feeling stress and the need for stress management.

Personal experience with stress and its impact on health (00:06:00)

Personal experience with stress-related health issues and the impact on blood pressure.

Impact of stress on decision-making and anxiety (00:09:20)

The impact of stress on decision-making, anxiety triggers, and external locus of control.

Managing conflicting priorities and setting boundaries (00:14:31)

Strategies for managing conflicting priorities, setting boundaries, and learning to say no.

Practical tips for stress management (00:16:02)

Practical tips for stress management, including exercise, meditation, and acknowledging anxiety.

Defining Boundaries (00:18:01)

Discusses setting clear limits and commitments to avoid stress and exploding on others.

Making Decisions to Reduce Stress (00:18:41)

Explores the concept of making one decision now to avoid making multiple decisions later.

Saying No and Prioritizing (00:19:38)

Discusses the importance of saying no to tasks and commitments and prioritizing responsibilities.

Recognizing Personal Limits (00:20:23)

Shares experiences of struggling with certain tasks and the importance of acknowledging personal limitations.

Getting Things Done Approach (00:22:55)

Discusses the approach by David Allen for organizational models and stress management.

Acknowledging Stress and Anxiety (00:25:21)

Emphasizes the importance of acknowledging stress and anxiety instead of denying or internalizing it.

Creating a Safe Space for Stress Discussions (00:26:13)

Encourages leaders to create an environment where employees feel safe discussing stress and challenges.

Leadership's Role in Stress Management (00:29:21)

Highlights the role of leaders in initiating conversations about stress and creating a supportive environment.

Addressing Structural Problems (00:32:54)

Emphasizes the importance of leaders addressing recurring structural problems causing stress.

Managing Stress in the Workplace (00:33:32)

Encourages individuals to manage stress rather than seeking a stress-free job, acknowledging personal responsibility.

Stress Management Tools (00:35:02)

Discussion on effective stress management tools for creating a positive work environment and improving productivity.

Closing Remarks (00:35:18)

Tom expresses gratitude for the conversation, and Joey reciprocates the sentiment.

Career Development Opportunities (00:35:22)

Promotion of remote work opportunities and open positions for young CPAs at Summit Virtual CFO and Anders + CPAs and Advisors.