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Chapter 22
Stress: Causes, Effects and Coping Strategies
Stress
Stress is the feelings of tension, exhaustion, pressure or strain. It is the products of demands
made on an individuals physical or mental capabilities.
Job stress
Job stress is the stress relating to the work, According to WHO definition it is the response
when people may have when presented with the work demands and pressures that are not
matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope.
Types of Stress
There are two types of stress
1. Nervous tension
2. Withdrawal
3. Low morale: low confidence, dissatisfaction or hopelessness etc.
4. Individual is repressing the problems.
Personality traits
Personality traits which might affect the ability to cope with stress includes the following
1. Sensitivity
2. Flexibility
3. Interpersonal competence
4. Sense of responsibility
Physiological
Psychological
1. Anxiety
2. Interpersonal aggression
3. Poor job performance
4. Resentment of supervisor
5. Inability to concentrate
6. Inability to make decision
7. Job dissatisfaction
8. Lower self esteem
Behavioral
1. Drug abuse
2. Tardiness
3. Absenteeism
4. Employee turnover
5. Under eating or over eating
6. Sleeplessness
7. Increases smoking
8. Increased drinking
9. Procrastination
10. Isolation
11. Nail biting
Burnout
Burnout is a fatigue that lasts more than two weeks. It is a state of exhaustion,
depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment. It results from long unrelenting
stress. It is mostly due to no-win situations that dissolve competency and motivation.
Causes of stress
Organizational causes
1. Workers at lower level are likely to feel very stressful or their basic needs are not
satisfied.
2. Lack of group cohesiveness makes every member stressed out.
3. Conflict among group members make people disgruntled.
Role causes
1. Role ambiguity
It is a situation where an individual is not sure what his role is or when those around him
are not clear what his role is, this may arise for a manager through:
2. Role conflict
It occurs when the individual is called upon to act in several roles at the same time and
they are incompatible with each other for example the dual roles of working mother or
a participative manager called upon to administer discipline.
3. Role overload
It occurs when an individual has too many roles to cope with and feels out of his depth
for example moving from a functional to general management positions.
It occurs when an individual is moved into a role or set of roles which perceives a being
below his capacity for example delegation may make a manager feel unneeded and
unsecure.
Individual (Personal) causes
Handling Stress
Personal strategies
1. Find out the most productive time of the day so you can do most stressing job when
you are energetic and fresh.
2. Keep track or work progress so that the plan is updated and work moves on.
3. Carry undone jobs to the top of next days lost otherwise you may forget it.
4. Delegate to others as you cant do everything alone.
5. Let assistant handle phone calls as it is very distracting.
6. Have lunch in office as going outside creates lot of stress.
7. Relaxation of meditation can be done to regain energy.
8. Get involved in your favorite activity for relaxation.
9. Follow bio feedback.
10. Use cognitive therapy to remove self-defeating cognition with positive one.
11. Exercise or play games to make yourself physically stronger.
Organizational strategies
Make a comprehensive plan for laying off people- so they are given enough
time.
Arrange a workshop for survivors.
A session of survivors with CEO to boost their confidence.
Clarification of roles to survivors to make them comfortable.