n my 20 years of consulting I have found 7 key ways in which managers can help direct reports work more effectively with less.

Here are three actions they can take:
• Decide which tasks are most important and the order in which they need to be done. Give the employee permission to reschedule other work that is not as important. Many employees get overwhelmed and think they need to do everything at once which is impossible and unproductive.

• Learn some quick stress management techniques in order to put less pressure on your employees. Stress from managers is contagious and the more relaxed and focused your employee, the more he/she will get done. the more accurate it will be and the less time it will take. Extra stress takes up a lot of time and energy which results in loss of productivity and costly mistakes. It will also keep the employee from being distracted from thinking about the shortage of people or lay-offs.

• communicate situation to employees. Let them know what has to be done. time frame and available resources. Ask for their input and suggestions. They may come up with more effective methods plus they are more likely to buy-in, do their best work, and be invested in success.