Stress

Stress is the general term applied to the pressures experienced in life. Whenever an individual feels that his integrity and well-being are endangered, and he is to bring together all his energy to his protection, he is in a state of stress.

Stress can be well defined as an adaptive response to an external factor that result in physical, psychological or behavioral deviations in an individual. It is a composite picture of restlessness, anxiety and tension.

Work Stress
Stress A dynamic condition in which an individual is confronted with an opportunity, constraint, or demand related to what he or she desires and for which the outcome is perceived to be both uncertain and important.

Stress is something that changes our physical, emotional or behavioral state while we encounter various stimuli in our environment. There is no escape from stress.
According to Hans Selye, Stress is the spice of life. A complete freedom from stress comes only in death.

Stress is not always negative!

It is only the dysfunctional stress, called distress, which is bad and must be overcome. On the contrary, there may be some positive stress, called eustress, like stress for creative work, entrepreneurial activities, keen competition, etc., which stimulate better productivity.

Causes of stress
Individual

Stressors Group Stressors Organizational Stressors Extra Organisational Stressors

Individual Stressors

Life and Career Change

Age

group, urbanization, career, death, marriage, divorce, transfer etc. A and Type B
Ambiguity, two or more roles

Personality Type
Type
Role

Role Characteristics

Group Stressors

Lack of Group Cohesiveness

Lack of Social Support Conflict

Organisational Stressors
Organisational Policies Organisational Structure Organisational Processes Physical Conditions Role Demands Task Demands

Extraorganisational Stressors
Social changes Technical Changes Economic and Financial Conditions Social Class Conflicts Community Conditions

Effects of Stress

Physical Problems Psychological Problems Behavioral Problems

Consequences of Stress
High Levels of Stress

Physiological Symptoms

Psychological Symptoms

Behavioral Symptoms

A Model of Stress

Physical Problems

Excitability of nerves Increased heart beat and breathing rates Increased blood pressure High level of cholesterol leading to heart disease Arthritis Headaches Ulcers Cancer

Psychological Problems
Anger Anxiety Depressions Nervousness Irritability Tension Boredom Inability to concentrate and make decisions Job dissatisfaction Lowered Self-esteem

Behavioral Problems

Alcoholism Drug addiction Increased Smoking Sleeplessness Under / Overeating Even Suicide Absenteeism and turnover

Inverted-U Relationship between Stress and Job Performance

E X H I B I T 1810

Managing Stress

Individual Coping Strategies

Physical Exercise such as Yoga, Swimming, Jogging, Playing, walking etc. Relaxation Transcendental Meditation Work - home Transition Cognitive Therapy Networking Time Management Use of realistic goal setting

Time is Precious in life

We all only have 24 hours in a day. And if we get 8 hours of sleep we only have 16 hours. So the question becomes, What do we do with those 16 hours? Isnt it interesting how some people use those 16 hours to be incredibly productive while others accomplish very little. Why is that? Why do some people achieve their goals and experience great productivity and success while others do not?

Stephen Coveys Time Management Matrix :First Things First

Organisational Coping Strategies

Supportive organizational climate Job Enrichment Organisational Role Clarity Career planning and counseling Stress control workshops and Employee Assistance Programme. Improved personnel selection and job placement Training Redesigning of jobs Increased employee involvement Improved organizational communication

Thank you