How to Work with Someone Who’s Always Stressed Out

You know the stress case — the one who’s always overwhelmed, overstretched, and overextended. They aren’t easy to work with, but you likely don’t have a choice. Whether you regard your colleague with annoyance or sympathy, here are some tips on how to work effectively with them. Acknowledge the stress. It’s important to make the stressed-out person feel seen and heard. Say something like: ‘I notice you were working late last night, and it wasn’t the first time. How are things?” Offer praise. Your jittery colleague probably feels out of control and incompetent. Cast them in a positive light by praising their competence and professionalism. Offer your assistance. Provide support by asking if there’s anything you can do to help. This makes your stressed-out colleague feel less alone. And don’t pile on. Reduce your colleague’s cognitive load by shortening your emails to them and splitting your larger requests into several smaller chunks.