It is helpful to consider the causes of pressure in teams as coming either from within (intrinsic) or from outside (extrinsic). Some typical examples are:

Intrinsic sources

• Conflict between team members
• A sense that not everyone is pulling their weight equally
• Lack of clarity about job roles or direction
• Lack of co-operation, communication or knowledge sharing
• Poorly organised workflows or environment.

Extrinsic sources

• Increased demands without adequate resources or planning of those resources
• Reduced income creating internal cost pressures
• Customer and stakeholder requirements
• Increased competition
• Uncertainty about future services from commissioning groups.

No doubt you will have many pressures and potential pressures on your list, but the takeaway point here is that there will always be multiple intrinsic and extrinsic reasons why pressure may build up in your team. So, how do you deal with this situation in a professional and considered manner?

Let’s begin by looking at one of the saddest consequences of unmanaged and unchecked pressure – low employee morale.