As economic conditions continue to deteriorate, workplace leaders not only face having to deliver bad news at times, but they also face the consequences of the increased anxiety caused by today’s market conditions. A recent Gallop survey indicated that a majority of workers are not worried about being laid off, which is a good thing. But a closer look at the data indicates a very high level of stress is being carried by workers everywhere.

Economic climate places additional stresses on workplace leaders

Even if the “majority” are not worried about being laid off in the near future, having nearly 1/3rd of respondents answering affirmatively to the first four of these five survey questions has to be pressing on workplace morale and productivity.  How leaders respond to this anxiety and steer the nervous energy into productive outcomes, while not hiding the threats or economic realities, will go a long way in determining which firms survive and prosper.