Zarah ChoudharyWorkplace anxiety, if left unaddressed, can lead to burnout and reduced productivity, according to research by music licensing company PPL PRS.
Their survey identified the top anxiety-inducing situations at work, with performance reviews affecting 50% of employees, followed by starting new projects (39%), client meetings (31%), internal meetings (29%), and answering calls (28%).
Marianne Rizkallah, a music therapist involved in the study, explained that anxiety manifests in physical and mental symptoms.
She said: “Employees struggling with anxiety may experience physical symptoms such as a quickened heart rate, shallow breaths, fatigue, and muscle aches.
“Workplace anxiety can also manifest mentally and emotionally, with symptoms like a quick temper or paranoid behaviour, such as overreacting to or presuming the worst from comments from colleagues or managers.”
The study highlighted that face-to-face interactions, such as performance reviews, are among the leading triggers of workplace anxiety.
The research noted: “Performance reviews, in particular, can induce a fight-or-flight reaction for those under the spotlight.”
Phone anxiety, an extension of social anxiety, also emerged as a common issue, with employees preferring written communication over verbal interactions.
To address workplace anxiety, Rizkallah suggested encouraging stress-reducing habits.
She noted that listening to music can have a significant impact on mood and productivity.
She added: “Music genres with a slightly higher BPM (beats per minute) than your heart rate will encourage your heart to keep pace, pumping more oxygen around your body and helping you fire on all cylinders.”
According to PPL PRS, 43% of UK workers prefer pop music for boosting productivity, while 26% favour rock.
Nature breaks were also recommended, as Rizkallah pointed out that being outdoors engages the senses and helps people organise their thoughts.
Writing down thoughts, whether through journaling or free association, was identified as another effective method to manage stress.
She said: “Seeing your thoughts on paper gives you a space to reflect on what was previously locked up in your mind.”
Debbie Green, a leadership coach for PPL PRS, stressed the importance of managers noticing signs of anxiety in their teams. She encouraged creating environments where employees feel valued and connected.
Green said: “Every member of your team wants to know that they matter.”
Recognising achievements, understanding individual motivations, and fostering open communication were identified as ways to support employees dealing with anxiety.
