Overcoming Stress In The Workplace

OVERCOMING STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

DEFINE & VISUALISE YOUR FUTURE

Bosses do not work out in advance how best to put people together. They only want the best employee who will do the work. You spend most of your time, if not more, with your co-workers and not your family.

Stress in the workplace can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker. Workplace stress can lead to poor health and even injury.

The concept of job stress is often confused with challenge, but these concepts are not the same. Challenge energizes us psychologically and physically, and it motivates us to learn new skills and master our jobs. When a challenge is met, we feel relaxed and satisfied. Thus, challenge is an important ingredient for healthy and productive work. The importance of challenge in our work lives is probably what people are referring to when they say, "a little bit of stress is good for you".

But is it? Do you thrive on stress? What happens when the stress is too much? Stress is different for everybody. What is stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else. For some it can simply be a colleague annoying you, or somebody wanting the aircon or heating on, and you don’t For others, trying to meet a deadline when everything is going wrong, or you don’t have the right information eg: January - tax return deadlines! It’s 11pm, you’re still in the office, you can’t get hold of your client and you can’t get a final piece of the puzzle.

Job stress results from the interaction of the worker and the conditions of work.

These differences in individual characteristics such as personality and coping style are important in predicting whether certain job conditions will result in stress. What we need to focus on is you and ways to help you cope with demanding job conditions. Are these working conditions more important than excessive workload demands and expectations?

WHAT ARE THE WORKING CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE STRESS:

The Design of Tasks: Heavy workload, infrequent rest breaks, long work hours and shiftwork; hectic and routine tasks that have little inherent meaning, do not utilize workers' skills, and provide little sense of control.

Management Style: Lack of participation by workers in decision-making, poor communication in the organization, lack of family-friendly policies.

Interpersonal Relationships: Poor social environment and lack of support or help from co-workers and supervisors.

Work Roles: Conflicting or uncertain job expectations, too much responsibility, too many "hats to wear".

Career Concerns: Job insecurity and lack of opportunity for growth, advancement, or promotion; rapid changes for which workers are unprepared.

Environmental Conditions: Unpleasant physical conditions such as crowding, noise, air pollution, or ergonomic problems.

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT:

Consider outcomes you would like to see: Before you go speak with a manager, have a few ideas of what a resolution would look like. You may get a chance to offer them as a solution.

Know the specific source of stress: If it is a specific person, a shift, or tasks that are more than you can handle, be ready to coherently state your case. It is hard for a manager to hear “I’m stressed!” and know what to do to relieve it if they do not know the specific things causing it.

Be ready to discuss collateral effects: If you know others are similarly stressed, let your manager know. Not everyone has the courage to speak up, but if others remain stressed, it will seep into all workers.

Use blame free language: Be selective with the words you use and avoid blaming others. Phrase things as they relate to you. For example, “I’m struggling with meeting my sales goals” instead of “James makes it impossible for me to meet my sales goals.”

Ask for specific solutions: If you just need to unload and have a counselling session, your manager may not be the best person to go to. But if you’re really looking for solutions, don’t leave the meeting without having some specific things you can do or expect to help change the stressful situation you’re facing.

At Millie-James Limited, we help you to recognise there is a stressful situation, work through how to cope with all the issues that arise in a working environment and how to approach your managers. This can be in a one-off seminar, individual or group sessions, or a series of coaching meetings for you and your employer.