From production warehouses to fast-food delivery, being in control of a fast-paced work environment is often a sign to the higher-ups that your managerial skills are being put to good use, and you have everyone working at a busy rate.

But as a manager, you know that moving at breakneck speeds can come with sudden and unexpected stops. We’re here today to go through ways of navigating your staff as they trailblaze through the corporate world.

We’ll depart slowly, breaking down the meaning of fast-paced work environments and burnout, then get into a higher gear with 7 practical actions you can take to make sure you’re looking after your staff in their rapid work style. Let’s take off.

What is meant by a ‘fast-paced work environment’?

Working in a fast-paced work environment sometimes carries a few meanings. It might mean tackling many tasks in a short time, or it could mean doing tasks that are normally outside of the specific job role.

In general, it means that there’s always something new happening. A fast-paced work environment comes with pros and cons, as new hurdles and changes might excite those up for the challenge. In a rapid work setting, business is done quickly, and as the technology a company uses evolves, so do the demands and pressures on your teams. It’s integral to make sure that your staff members working in a fast-paced setting don’t experience burnout.

Burnout occurs when staff experience job-related stress that can impact their physical and emotional well-being, and the cost associated with burnout stress is no joke. According to the American Institute of Stress, burnout costs companies over $300 billion annually, from accidents, turnover, low productivity, and medical costs.

Many factors (often a combination of them) result in employee burnout, and today we’ll look at practical techniques and activities to combat that dreaded burnout head-on. 

Ways to manage a fast-paced work environment

Standing at the helm of your teams working at a breakneck speed, it’s on you to make sure they’re safe, looked after, and cared for. Here’s our list of actions you should take to make sure your fast-paced work environment is cushioned to suit any sudden stops.

Invest in employee fitness and well-being 

Encouraging a healthy work-life balance is a lot more than just what happens within the office walls. You want to make sure they’re doing well outside of the 9-to-5 too. Employees whose day-to-day operations involve stress and multitasking should be assured that you consider their work-life balance.

A gym membership is a direct way to help staff who work in a fast-paced work environment outside of work . Create a ‘stay fit, stay sharp’ initiative, wherein staff are encouraged and supported in their workout routines. 

Understanding that physically fit employees have better work performance, you are likely to find that many of your employees would enjoy getting involved with a fitness program. Encourage employees to join the gym in pairs or groups. By hitting the gym together, your crew can swap workout tips and cheer each other on to their personal goals.

Understandably, not every office has space to bring a gym into the building, but more and more companies are incorporating on-site workout areas. Other well-being facilities could include Zumba sessions or kickboxing classes. The main aim is to offer support and encouragement for staff members who want to prioritize physical well-being outside of work. The mental side could, and should, improve with it, leading to an overall healthier workforce.

Time-management tools

As the workplace speeds up and employees shift into top gear, time can feel like both a precious commodity and a relentless enemy. Here’s where you should bring in time-management tools to keep the pace of work up, while minimizing burnout. 

For managers striving to safeguard their team from burnout, empowering staff with time-management tools can make a world of difference. Introduce your team to task management applications like Trello, Asana, or Monday.com. They help your staff to organize their work, set priorities, and see what's coming up next. No more drowning in a sea of to-dos, staff are working with healthy timers and deadline management tools.

The Pomodoro Technique, developed by Francesco Cirillo, is a great tool for time management used in focused intervals. It breaks the workday into chunks, like 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short breather.

Inbox management tools like Boomerang or Unroll.Me help your teams wrangle through rapid email communications by scheduling, organizing, and decluttering. 

By arming your team with these time-management tools you're setting them up for success and building a positive work environment where staff feel like they’re always in control of their time. They feel more focused in the face of chaos and the burnout monster is kept at bay. So, go ahead, give them a try, and watch your team thrive!

Extra attention to stress relief

As workplaces intensify up to dizzying speeds, it’s inevitable that things might get rocky, there’s no point in fighting it. Staff are more likely to experience stress, and it’s crucial that you provide stress relief outlets for them. 

Think of your staff coming in from a stressful end of the week, in a place where they have no opportunity to let this stress out. ‘Bare minimum Mondays’ are a real thing, and if you aren’t careful, they can throw a huge wrench into your work plans, right at the start of the week.

Bring in some activities focused solely on stress relief. Designate a relaxation zone and kit it out with things that help your teams unwind. This could be a ping-pong table or a high-end gaming area. Comfy chairs, calming tunes, maybe even a place to meditate, the itineraries for these zones can be tailored to the type of people in your teams. Remember the main focus is to keep things fun at work, so apply yourself to learning exactly what your staff find fun.

By giving these stress relief ideas a shot, you’re showing you care about employee well-being. By helping them unwind and find their balance, you can keep burnout at bay and create a zone where people truly want to be.

Mener par l'exemple

One of the most critical techniques you can use in a fast-paced work environment is leading by example. A positive team culture is created when staff know they’re looking up to a manager who walks the walk, who doesn’t just delegate orders. 

The aim is not just to show you’re there as part of the team, but that you’re leading them from the bottom up. Be transparent and share your own workload with your teams. This helps humanize you as a leader and create an environment where people aren’t afraid to take on new tasks and ask for input. 

Form meaningful connections with your staff, making sure you cover small things, like taking breaks together and acknowledging the efforts of others. Leading by example in these ways helps create a supportive and collaborative work environment where team members feel valued and understood.

Evaluate distractions

In one way or another, we are all guilty of indulging in distractions that never seem to do us any good. As a manager, it's crucial to stay vigilant and minimize these interruptions to keep your team focused and firing on all cylinders. Here’s the time to evaluate any distractions that might be happening at work.

First off, just spend a little time analyzing common distractions. It could be noisy office chatter, incessant email notifications, or even the lure of social media. Identify and pinpoint them first. You might then want to set clear priorities, perhaps even with your team. Involve them in evaluating the most tempting distractions at work, and look for solutions.

One answer might be leveraging tech solutions. Invest in tools and software that streamline workflows and minimize digital distractions. Whether it's project management platforms or apps that block distracting websites, technology can be a powerful ally in maintaining focus.

You could even designate some quiet zones in work areas. Create designated quiet zones, or even specific times in the day, where distractions are kept to a minimum. “Focus hours" can provide a sanctuary for uninterrupted work, significantly boosting productivity.

Workshops on keeping organized

Running a workshop to help staff stay physically and mentally organized at work is highly beneficial in a fast-paced work environment. Regardless of how fast things move, you need to keep things organized to amplify productivity.

A workshop dedicated to practical organizational tips can help staff stay on top of their game. Simplicity is key here, so help staff practice handling tasks according to deadlines, or urgency. A good handling system, operated by stable hands, makes it easier for staff who might feel overwhelmed or burdened by unclimbable work mountains. Help your staff get comfortable with the 5 S method (Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardize and Sustain).

Without control, fast-paced offices can become like a whirlwind, and small actions like decluttering the workplace and DAM (digital asset management) platforms can keep things nailed down when winds pick up. Equip your team with the tools and techniques they need to empower them to navigate your fast-paced work environment. 

Encourage employees to use vacation time

In chaos that often arises from a fast-paced work environment, it's easy for employees to get caught up in the momentum, often neglecting their much-needed downtime. One crucial strategy a keen manager uses is encouraging employees to use their vacation time effectively.

You’ve got to support every member in recognizing the down-time they’re entitled to. According to a report by the U.S. Travel Association, a whopping 768 million vacation days were left on the table in the United States in 2018 alone.

So as a manager, what’s the best thing to do? Keep conversations about vacation open and honest, make it clear that taking time off is not only okay but actually encouraged. Help them to plan ahead, so that vacations won’t throw any spanners into plans for speedy projects. Burnout is real, and some staff continue working through it, often without bringing their stresses out into the open. 

Finally, think about ways to make taking time off more appealing. Maybe you could offer rollover days or even bonuses for using up vacation time. These little incentives prioritize employee well-being and eliminate any awkward talks or feelings toward vacation time. 

Your fast-paced employees need to work hard and play hard. Reward them with one of our team retreats!

One of the most important parts of maintaining a fast-paced work environment is the use of incentives. Rewards are needed to keep teams performing their best, and one of the best ways teams can reach their peak is with a team-building retreat. So why not try one of these fabulous retreats with us?

Imagine the usual confines of your office settings melting away on a sandy beach or taking the time to appreciate nature on a countryside retreat. A quick change of environment can be as revitalizing as a complete office overhaul. Your team will have one another’s backs and be working in complete harmony, motivated to tackle any challenge together. 

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Make sure you’re rewarding those superstars in the middle of the whirlwind in your fast-paced work environment. Contact us at Surf Office and let us help you organize an unforgettable retreat.