Post on 17-Feb-2017
STRESS MANAGEMENT
WHAT IS STRESS ?
• Stephen p. Robbins: “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”.
• It arises when they worry that they can’t cope
WHEN DO WE FEEL THE PRESENCE OF STRESS ?
• S = P > R
• Stress occurs when the pressure is
greater than the resource
GAS model of Stress
• General adaptation syndrome (GAS) Selye's (1956)three-stage model, which describes the body's physiological responses to stress
• In alarm stage the person becomes aware of threat and body reacts accordingly
• In resistance stage person feels confident and implement strategies to fight the stressor
• Sometimes the stressors persist even after repeated effort or one after the other they approach. This leads to exhaustion
TYPES OF STRESS
NEGATIVE STRESS
• Contributory factor in minor conditions, such as headaches, digestive problems, skin complaints, insomnia and ulcers
• Excessive, prolonged and unrelieved stress can have a harmful effect on mental and physical health
POSITIVE STRESS
• Enhances motivation, triggers the sense of emergency to act• Needed for survival when confronting threatening situations
Too little stress Low performance
Optimal Stress High performance
Too much stress Low performance
Stress LevelLow
High
HighBoredomApathylethargy
High motivationHigh energy
Alertness
PanicCollapse
Indecisiveness
Perf
orm
ance
Stress and Performance
Stress and Performance
• Critics said, even moderate level of stress can impair performance
• The relationship between stress and performance depends also on the nature of task performed
• In an easy repetitive task the previous model can be effective but in decision making related tasks even moderate stress can be harmful
Administrative Policies and Strategies
•Downsizing•Competitive pressures•Merit pay plans•Rotating work shifts•Bureaucratic rules•Advanced technology
Organizational Structure and Design
•Centralization and formalization•Line-staff conflicts•Specialization•Role ambiguity and conflict•No opportunity for promotion•Restrictive, untrusting culture
Organizational Processes
•Tight controls •Only downward communication•Little performance feedback•Centralized decision making•Lack of participation in decisions•Punitive appraisal systems
Working Conditions
•Crowded work area•Noise, heat, or cold•Polluted air•Strong odor•Unsafe, dangerous conditions•Poor lighting•Physical or mental strain•Toxic chemicals or radiation
Job Stress
ORGANIZATIONAL SOURCES
INDIVIDUAL SOURCES
MAJOR LIFE EVENTS
• Birth• Death• Lost job• Promotion• Marital status change
LIFESTYLE CHOICES
• Caffeine
• Lack of sleep
• Overloaded schedule
MIND TRAPS
• Unrealistic expectations
• Taking things personally
• All or nothing thinking• Exaggeration• Rigid thinking
PERSONALITY TRAITS
• Perfectionists
• Workaholics
IDENTIFY STRESS
• Physical symptoms• Behavioural symptoms• Emotional symptoms
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
• Sleep pattern changes• Fatigue• Digestion changes• Headaches• Aches and pains• Infections• Indigestion
• Dizziness• Fainting• Sweating & trembling• Tingling hands & feet• Breathlessness• Palpitations• Missed heartbeats
BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS
• Lack of concentration• Memory lapses• Difficulty in making
decisions• Confusion• Disorientation• Panic attacks
BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS cont’
• Appetite changes - too much or too little
• Increased intake of alcohol & other drugs
• Increased smoking• Restlessness• Fidgeting• Nail biting• Preoccupation over illness
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
• Bouts of depression• Impatience• Fits of rage• Tearfulness• Deterioration of
personal hygiene and appearance
Death of Spouse 100
Divorce 73
Jail Term 63
Death of a close family member 63
Major personal injury or illness 53
Marriage 50
Fired from work 47
Retirement 45
Business Re-adjustment 39
Change in responsibilities at work 29
Trouble with boss 23
Vacation 13
Festivals 12
Minor violations of law 11
Life change
MANAGE YOUR STRESS
Organizational Strategies *** Problem-focused strategies
Redesigning the job Proper selection and
placement Training Team building Providing various day care
facilities*** Emotion-focused strategies Promoting open
communication within the organization
Employee assistance programs
Mentoring Wellness programs and
personal time off
PERSONAL STRATEGIES
RECOGNISE THE PROBLEM
• The most important point is to recognise the source of the negative stress
• Don’t deny, rather accept the presence of stress
ABC STRATEGY
A = AWARENESS •What causes you stress?•How do you react?
B = BALANCE •There is a fine line between positive / negative stress•How much can you cope with before it becomes negative ?
C = CONTROL •What can you do to help yourself combat the negative effects of stress ?
STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
• Change your thinking
• Change your behaviour
• Change your life
CHANGE YOUR THINKING
Re-framing• Technique to change the way you look at
things in order to feel better about them• Re-framing does not change the external
reality but helps you view things in a different light and less stressfully
Positive thinking
• Forget powerlessness, dejection, despair, failure
• Focus on your strengths• Look for other alternatives• Seek out the positive - make a change
CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR
• Be assertive• Get organised• Ventilation• Humour
• Diversion and distraction
ASSERTIVENESS
• Being assertive involves standing up for your personal rights and expressing your thoughts, feelings and beliefs directly, honestly and spontaneously in ways that don’t infringe the rights of others
GET ORGANISED
• Prioritising objectives, duties and activities makes them manageable and achievable
• Time Management• Make a list• What MUST be done• What SHOULD be done• What would you LIKE to do• Cut out time wasting• Learn to drop unimportant
activities• Say no or delegate
VENTILATION
• Develop a support network through friends or colleagues to talk with
• Writing a diary or notes may help you release the pent up feelings
HUMOUR
• Acts as a pleasant distracter
• Changes the perspective
• Relieves muscular tension
• Improves breathing
OTHER STRATEGIES
• Take time out• Get away from things that
bother you• Fantasize about something
pleasant • Take changes as a normal part
of life• See setbacks and problems as
temporary and solvable• Have a support system and ask
for help• Verbalize your expectations
• Don’t try to please everyone• Stop living your life according to
the beliefs, opinions and prejudgments of others. Its your life, not theirs
• Examine your beliefs and goals• Focus on the present. The past
cannot be changed. The future hasn't arrived yet. That leaves you with now
• Try to make changes gradually. Attempting to change too much too soon often leads to disappointment
ADD LIFE TO YEARSNOT YEARS TO LIFE