Most companies in the region are still operating with the same expectations:
deadlines, targets, output. But the environment your team is working in has changed.

Ongoing exposure to war, uncertainty, and financial pressure doesn’t stay outside. It shows up at work as slower thinking, lower energy, and reduced focus.

This is not a motivation issue. It’s a cognitive load issue.

When employees are mentally preoccupied—processing risk, uncertainty, or distress—

their ability to prioritise, make decisions, and sustain attention drops. You may see:

·      More mistakes

·      Slower execution

·      Difficulty with complex tasks

·      Increased dependency on direction

If you respond by pushing harder—more pressure, tighter deadlines—you don’t fix the problem. You increase cognitive overload, and performance drops further.

The companies that adapt understand this: You don’t manage performance the same way in a war-affected environment.

What actually works:

·      Adjust expectations on complexity, not standards

·      Shorten feedback loops

·      Prioritise fewer, high-impact tasks

·      Normalise fluctuation in performance

These are not management preferences. They are adjustments to instability.

If your team feels slower, less sharp, or less responsive—it’s not necessarily disengagement. It’s what happens when people are expected to perform normally in abnormal conditions.

If you want consistent performance, you need to address what’s destabilising it.

Confidential online therapy gives employees a structured, private space to process what they’re carrying, regulate stress, and regain clarity—without disrupting the workday—because specialists are available beyond working hours.

The result is not just better well-being—it’s more stable output, better decision-making, and stronger retention.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in:

Building Positive Workplace Dynamics

Career and Family: Are the Two Possible to Balance?


Article by:
Ghinwa Chaccour

Head of Therapy