Decades of scientific research show that stress and anxiety are prevalent problems at work, contributing to deficits in employee morale, well-being, and productivity. While anxiety is caused by a range of factors, including issues unrelated to people’s jobs, one common and pervasive cause is something specific to the workplace: incompetent leadership.
Managers and leaders have a direct effect on their employees’ stress and anxiety levels. What they say, feel, and do hugely influences their team’s physical and emotional well-being. And the more senior leaders are, the more people they are likely to influence — positively and negatively.