Getting ahead: 5 ways to break stress before it breaks you
Practical strategies for reducing workplace stress and burnout
by https://www.techradar.com/author/dr-sarah-bush · TechRadarOpinion By Dr Sarah Bush Published 22 September 2026
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Technology is constantly evolving, and with that comes increasing pressure on those working in the sector. It's no surprise, then, that technology ranks among the industries with the highest levels of work-related stress, contributing to around 550,000 working days lost over three years according to the Health and Safety Executive in 2024.
Stress rarely appears overnight. It builds over time through heavy workloads, unclear expectations, limited support and constantly shifting priorities. Too often, leaders only recognize the problem once an employee has reached burnout.
Dr Sarah Bush
Assistant Professor of Leadership Education at the University of Florida and a practitioner of Kirton’s Adaption-Innovation (KAI) Theory.
Managing stress shouldn't be seen solely as an individual's responsibility. Leaders play a vital role in creating environments where people feel supported, can raise concerns early and have the tools they need to manage pressure before it becomes overwhelming.
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By recognizing the warning signs and making a few practical changes, leaders can help prevent stress from escalating into burnout.
1. Understand how and why individuals respond differently
Two employees can face exactly the same challenge but respond in completely different ways. One useful way of understanding these differences is through Kirton's Adaption-Innovation (KAI) Theory. Developed by psychologist Dr Michael Kirton, the theory suggests people naturally approach change and problem-solving in different ways.
More adaptive individuals tend to prefer structure, established processes and incremental improvements, while more innovative individuals are often more comfortable with ambiguity, risk taking and finding entirely new solutions. Most people fall somewhere between the two.
Neither style is better than the other, but each can bring different sources of stress. More adaptive employees may struggle with unclear roles, changing priorities or a lack of structure, while more innovative employees can become frustrated by rigid processes or repetitive work.
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