Adapt your leadership to where the employee is on the stress ladder

If your employee is showing signs of stress or struggling with well-being, a constructive dialogue can help identify their symptoms and the challenges they face. This conversation can also provide insight into where they might be on the stress scale (figure 1).

Creating a safe, trusting, open, and honest space for dialogue is crucial. During this discussion, you can explore how the employee is feeling, their overall well-being, and where they personally feel they are on the stress scale.

Based on this, you can adjust your leadership approach to meet the employee’s needs (figure 2). Maintaining close communication and adapting your leadership style accordingly can significantly support your employee—helping them remain productive, engaged, and, in many cases, preventing a need for sick leave.