Surface Tension Give reps a break before their stress bubbles over.

Some stress is fine for sales reps--it can be a motivator and keep productivity high. But heap on too much tension, and your sellers' output will start to plummet. As you kick off 2006, take these tips from Laura Stack, author of Leave the Office Earlier, to ensure your reps don't get frazzled.

1. Resist the workaholic temptation. Encourage reps to fight the desire to live and breathe work. Says Stack, "What fun is it to live if you work too much and end up with a shortened life expectancy, headaches, high blood pressure, heart attacks [and] stomach aches?" Reps need balance outside their jobs to remain motivated and keep stress in check.

2. Ensure adequate staffing. Overwork is one of the biggest causes of stress, so try not to pile too much on one salesperson.