Leadership Skills

Dealing with Stress

Stress comes from something that requires a change or response. It could be emotional, physical, social, or economic. Stress is okay and expected in every day life, but when there is too much stress, the human body does not handle it very well. Workplace stress happens when the expectations at work start to conflict with the control the person has to meet those expectations. That means there is more to be done than can physically be done. Workplace stress is a health hazard.

When stressed, the body reacts. The senses become more acute, the pulse and breathing quicken, and the body's muscles tighten. This is the body's normal "fight or flight" response. Once the situation is finished, the body returns to normal. Trouble begins when there is no end and the body stays in a stressed state. A common indicator of too much stress is fatigue. Other ailments include sleep disturbances, mood changes, upset stomach, headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a short temper.

Some common workplace stressors are:

• Hazardous physical conditions
• Heavy workload
• Long working hours
• Shift work
• Vague job expectations
• Poor communication
• Tasks that have little meaning
• Skills not being utilized
• Unrealistic deadlines
• Sporadic rest periods
• Too much responsibility
• Little control
• Lack of support from coworkers
• Lack of support from supervisors
• Lack of involvement in decision-making
• Poor social environment in the workplace
• Job insecurity
• Lack of career growth or advancement
• Swift changes in the workplace

Recently companies have started to realize the impact stress has on employees and their job performance. Some ways that employers are trying to reduce stress in the workplace are:

• Clearly defining work roles and responsibilities
• Improving communication at all levels
• Maintaining an employee-friendly work culture
• Acknowledging good work performance regularly
• Permitting employees to be involved in decisions about their jobs
• Providing and encouraging career development
• Providing stress management training to all employees