Managing Stress Through Development: Why Training Matters

In the UK, over 17 million working days were lost to stress, anxiety, or depression in the last year alone.
That’s nearly half of all work related ill health cases – a staggering figure that highlights just how widespread and serious workplace stress has become.

Stress in the workplace is nothing new – but in today’s fast paced, high pressure environments, it’s no longer something we can afford to overlook. The signs may be subtle at first: increased absences, lower engagement, reduced productivity, or a change in someone’s confidence. But left unaddressed, stress can take a significant toll on individuals, teams, and the overall culture of an organisation.

Whether it’s driven by unrealistic workloads, unclear expectations, poor communication, or a lack of role clarity, unmanaged stress doesn’t stay in a silo – it spreads. It affects team morale, increases turnover, and limits the kind of collaboration and creativity that helps businesses thrive. Managing stress is critical for all organisations.

The good news? Training and development can play a powerful role in reducing stress and building resilience. It’s not a silver bullet, but it’s a hugely impactful part of the solution.

How does development help to create a healthier, more sustainable workplace?

🔹 Builds confidence
When people are equipped with the right knowledge and skills, they naturally feel more in control. That sense of competence helps reduce the anxiety that often comes from feeling like you’re out of your depth or unsure of what’s expected. Training allows people to face challenges with greater assurance, reducing the day-to-day uncertainty that can lead to stress.

🔹 Improves clarity
Many workplace stressors stem from ambiguity – whether it’s about a role, a process, or expectations. Structured training helps cut through confusion. When teams understand their systems, tools, and workflows, it creates a smoother, less reactive environment and allows people to focus on the work that matters, not second guessing themselves.

🔹 Equips people with practical tools
Resilience, communication, time management, and prioritisation are all trainable skills. Providing people with practical strategies to manage pressure empowers them to take proactive steps in managing their workload and mindset. It also signals that wellbeing is valued – not just productivity.

🔹 Encourages connection and support
Learning environments – especially those built around coaching, mentoring, or peer learning – foster community. That sense of connection can be a powerful buffer against stress. When people know they’re not alone, and they have others to turn to, the weight they carry often feels lighter.

It’s important to remember that training isn’t just for fixing problems – it’s also a way to prevent them. By taking a proactive approach to development, organisations can address some of the root causes of stress before they take hold.

What could that look like?

Managing stress could be made easier by taking these steps:

• Building leadership capability to spot and respond to early signs of stress
• Developing strong onboarding programmes that set clear expectations from the start
• Training line managers to support team wellbeing and promote psychological safety
• Offering personal development opportunities that allow people to grow and feel valued

How can Cornerstone Resources help in managing stress?

At Cornerstone Resources, we support organisations to design learning and development strategies that are not only effective – but human. We believe in shaping experiences that boost performance and support wellbeing, because the two go hand-in-hand.

If you’d like to explore how we can support your team with managing stress, resilience training, or wider development needs – or help address the causes of stress before they arise – get in touch. We’d love to help.

Because developing people is about more than just skills – it’s about helping them thrive! On that note click here to learn more about how stress can sometimes be a good thing!