Org Behavior & Mgmt
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78605_06ppt.pptxChapter 6: Managing Stress
© 2015 SAGE Publication, Inc.
Defining Stress
Stress can be defined as an individual physiological, behavioral, and psychological response to perceived challenges and threats in our environment.
You can experience stress anytime you are put in the position of having to adapt or change; indeed, , it is difficult to imagine a meaningful existence that does not include some level of stress.
Completely eliminating stress is not only bad for you, but impossible.
Stress does not kill people; rather, it is the capacity of people to adapt to the demands of life that enables them to live.
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The General Adaptation Syndrome
The general adaptation syndrome (GAS) describes the three stages that individual go through when they respond to stressor and try to adapt to them.
Alarm is the first physical reaction that occurs when a person feels threatened because she perceives and recognizes stressors.
The countershock phase in which the body’s physical and psychological defenses are mobilized.
Exhaustion results from long-term exposure to stressors.
Continued and prolonged exposure to stressors puts people in a continual GAS cycle where they experience alarm and resistance.
© 2015 SAGE Publication, Inc.
Alarm
Body reacts to threat
Resistance
Physical, psychological, and behavioral reactions combat the threat
Exhaustion
Prolonged alarm and resistance wear person down
Figure 6.1: The General
Adaptation Syndrome
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The Consequences and Costs of Stress
The consequences and costs of stress to individuals, to organizations, and to society at large are nothing short of enormous.
“Job stress alone is estimated to cost U.S. businesses at least $300 billion each year in absenteeism, diminished productivity, employee turnover and direct medical, legal and insurance fees” (Singer, 2011).
If stress leads to depression, the costs go even higher.
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Figure 6.2: Ideal Level of Stress
Performance
Well-Being
Productivity
Low
Low
High
High
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Stress: Good, Bad, and Ugly
We cannot avoid stress while still living normal lives.
Despite all of its negative consequences and costs, some stress can be very beneficial:
It can increase our energy, motivation, and drive.
Appropriate levels of stress help us to focus our attention, make our awareness more acute, and promote sound decision making.
© 2015 SAGE Publication, Inc.
Stress: Good, Bad, and Ugly
Seyle (1975) expressed the distinction between the positive and negative aspects of stress as the difference between eustress (eu is the Greek root for “good”) and distress.
When stress levels are too low, performance will suffer.
As stress (arousal) increases, performance improves.
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Sources of Stress
Job stress occurs when job-related factors interact with the worker’s individual characteristics in a way that either enhances or disrupts the worker’s psychological or physiological functioning (West & West, 1989).
There are a variety of job-related factors that may play a role; however, individual personal factors also impact stress level and therefore an employee’s performance.
Not all people will respond to these factors in the same way, and the existence of a stress response does not necessarily mean that it is altogether negative.
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Sources of Stress: Individual Factors
Individual sources of stress stem from our personalities or events in our personal lives.
Various other personal factors such as:
financial pressures,
family troubles,
abusive relationships,
addiction.
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Sources of Stress: Organizational Factors
Interpersonal Relationships
Role Ambiguity and Conflict
Workload
Intrinsic Nature of the Work
Working Conditions
Organizational Environment and Justice
© 2015 SAGE Publication, Inc.
Individual Factors
Life events
Personality
Personal problems
Organizational Factors
Interpersonal relationships at work
Role ambiguity and conflict
Workload
The work itself
Working conditions
Organizational justice
Organizational environment
Work-life balance
STRESS
Figure 6.3: Sources of Stress
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Coping With and Managing Stress
Recognizing and evaluating how stress is influencing both our own performance and that of others is the first step.
We need to be sufficiently self-aware to first recognize the symptoms of stress in ourselves.
Establishment of clear goals, development of resources and support, effective communication, and self-awareness.
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Figure 6.4: Strategies for Managing Stress
Stress
Personal Strategies
Lifestyle adjustment
Attitude adjustment
Social support
Emotional regulation
Time management
Organizational Strategies
Job redesign
Organizational support
Eustress
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Coping With and Managing Stress
Personal Strategies:
Lifestyle Adjustments
Attitude Adjustments
Social Support
Emotional regulation
Time Management
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Coping With and Managing Stress
Organizational Strategies:
Job Redesign : modifying and redesigning jobs so that they fit employees’ needs can ameliorate some sources of work-related stress.
Preventative Strategies: organizations must be attentive to preventive strategies in recruiting, selecting, and socializing employees.
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Figure 6.5: Steps in Time Management
Set priorities
Evaluate how
you spend your time
Plan time according
to priorities (to-do list)
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