{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"MGW #21 - \u201cAnxiety Free Workplace\u201d with Bud Torcom","description":"GUEST: Bud Torcom https:\/\/mazamamedia.com\/ https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/budtorcom\/ Twitter: @BudTorcom     HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR CONVERSATION:   Bud Torcom\u2019s Big Hairy Audacious Goal is an anxiety free workplace.   I\u2019ve wanted to treat people the way I want to be treated and work in the kind of workplace I\u2019d want to be working in.   As a digital marketing company, being in the office for normal business hours isn\u2019t necessary.   We\u2019re on a constant, steady drip of the stress hormone, cortisol. OUr bodies did not evolve for a constant cortisol drip. Anxiety is making us sick.   Bud\u2019s not sure an anxiety free workplace is possible. Even so, he\u2019s on a mission to try\u2026 to see if it\u2019s possible.   The people of Mazama Media are the face of the company -- and the interface of the customers. Happy team members create happy clients.   Human Prairie dog -- When each member of the team looks out for the interests of the others, then all individuals feel they can afford to look out for collective interests.   \u201cIt\u2019s my responsibility [to take on the stress].\u201d   The message to the team\u2026 \u201cThe thing that just happened is not going to mean you don\u2019t eat tonight.\u201d You\u2019re not going to lose your job. We\u2019re going to learn from the way things went down.   We\u2019re anticipating dips on the path of growth. Setting expectations of inevitable setbacks helps to smooth out the experience people have of the ups and downs of any business.   \u201cBlame the process, not the person.\u201dWhere did the problem hit? What can we learn about our processes and procedures from each setback, failure, or bump in the road.People want to have purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.   Checklists help insure success. Set people up for success.   When you work together as a team, and with the support of technology, much fewer errors are missed and less slips through the cracks. Both team redundancy and technology backup makes for effective performance. Processes and systems get refined over time. Learn from the data and refine as you go.   The message to the team, \u201cThese processes and checklists are here to support you.\u201d   Limit the number of things on your list of to dos. A huge list is a stresser. Focus on the few that will have the greatest impact.   Your team is going to be right about their priorities 90% of the time. Go with their gut.   The presence of ping-pong and other games in the modern workplace does have a work relevant role to play -- to give the mind a break during which breakthrough can happen.   Bud fires paying clients when they treat his team in ways that he doesn\u2019t want people to be treated.   Prospects who will create anxiety in the organization are disqualified as clients.   Where are the places to relieve stress and anxiety from the whole system -- the team, leadership, and clients. Stress is cumulative and contagious.   Prevent burnout by defining limits. Setting limits can enhance performance because results will have to come from effective behaviors over hustle.   Delegation is a leader\u2019s force magnifier.   Richard Branson says that your team comes first, not clients. This is because people who know that someone\u2019s got their back are freed up to care for the clients.   Enough high-level thinking. Here are seven specific actions you can take to reduce anxiety in your organization.   Blame the process, not the person. Build a got your back culture. You can get people to do more through praise than through condemning. So praise people. Thank people frequently. Give people the ability to create. Give them agency to affect the work they do and the way they do it. Put relationships first. \u201cIt\u2019s never about the thing. It\u2019s always about the relationship.\u201d Build relationships that will deliver results. Let the people go surfing.   ________________   Your host on Mighty Good Work is Aaron Schmookler. https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/schmookler\/   And, we\u2019re The Yes Works -- Helping to make work good for people, and make people good for work.   www.TheYesWorks.com   Resources mentioned in today\u2019s show:   Simon Sinek\u2019s book, Leaders Eat Last And his website: https:\/\/startwithwhy.com\/ Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard of Patagonia Mazama Media\u2019s youtube channel Five Cent Thank Yous ","author_name":"Mighty Good Work","author_url":"http:\/\/theyesworks.com\/podcast","html":"