Stress Management Tip - Reduce Stress in the Workplace
Feeling stress in the work place is a very common issue in many
organisations both large and small. For workers, the result of
such stress is reduced job satisfaction. In extreme cases this
can degenerate further into physical and psychological symptoms
such as muscular aches and pains, weakened immunity,
irritability and depression to name a few. This ultimately leads
to feeling burnt out. For the organisation, there is also an
impact. Firstly a worker that is suffering from stress and burn
out will typically be quite unproductive because of absenteeism
and/or less than satisfactory job performance. The impact on the
organisation will also vary depending on the type of role the
worker engages in. For example a stressed out salesman who
develops a detachment towards clients can potentially affect the
public perception of the organisation. Similarly a stressed out
worker involved in producing goods will not produce anywhere
near his/her optimal output. There can also be an indirect
impact on other fellow co-workers due to lower morale.
Before one can look at how to deal with workplace stress, it is
important to look at the various sources of such stress. Stress
will be either due to personal reasons or because of workplace
issues. Personal stress can include anything unrelated to the
actual workplace such as relationship issues, family conflicts,
financial concerns etc. Workplace stresses will be based on
either the nature of the job itself or the nature of the
organisation or both. The job itself may be too much of a load
for the one person due to either lack of resources (people and
equipment) or time. There may be some form of ambiguity as to
what the actual role of the job is exactly. From an
organisational perspective, there may be simply low morale due
to downsizing and cost cutting. The management of the
organization may also be perceived as not treating their workers
fairly. Or perhaps the actual conditions of the workplace are
below an acceptable standard.
Because workplace stress can be either personal or
organisational, addressing and managing this stress will require
a proactive approach from two angles. Personally, there is a lot
one can do ensure that he/she is feeling content and happy
including getting regular rest, exercising, eating well and even
seeking professional help if necessary. If the stress is due to
the nature of the role or organisation, then the worker must
speak to the relevant authority, i.e. the manager or other
individual, to discuss the concerns. If discussing this does not
solve the issue, perhaps it is time to move on - there may
simply be not a good fit between the individual and the job, or
the individual and the company.
Finally the organisation can also be quite proactive in
minimizing the workplace stress felt by its workers. Roles can
be redesigned to fit the individuals. Appropriate training or
change management programs can be put into place to support the
workers. The HR division within the company may also need to
look at better strategies for recruiting the right people. For
large organisations, stress management and wellness programs can
also be introduced. The organisation has a lot to gain by
implementing one or more of the above suggestions - increased
morale, decreased absence, decreased turnover, increased
performance and productivity, and ultimately growing profits.