lec 25 - stress

Organizational Behavior, 8e Schermerhorn, Hunt, and Osborn

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Organizational Behavior 2

Stress

Stress is behavioral, physical,

or psychological response to

stressors

Stress is not merely

nervous tension

Stress can have positive

consequences

Stress is not something to

be avoided

The complete absence of

stress is death

Stress is inevitable


Stress

Stressors

A stimulus or situation that causes stress. Any factor, thing, elements, and variable that cause stress are called stressor.

TYPES OF STRESSOR

There are two types of stressor.

Work related stressor. Non work and personal stressor.

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Organizational Behavior: Chapter

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Work-related stressors

Task demands.

Role ambiguities.

Role conflicts.

Ethical dilemmas.

Interpersonal problems.

Career developments.

Physical setting.


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Non-work and personal stressors

Family events.

Economic difficulties.

Personal affairs.

Individuals needs.

Individuals capabilities.

Individuals personality.


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Stress

Pressure people feel in life due to their

reaction to situation.

Complete control over what happens in

their life.

A state of tension experienced by

individuals facing extraordinary demands,

constraints, or opportunities.

It is a state of discomfort felt in the mind

and experienced by the body.


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Characterized by change within people

that force them to deviate from their

Normal Functioning.

It affects the employee mental and

physical health performance.

Stress


Not All Stress Is Bad

Some level of stress can increase productivity

Too little or too much stress will reduce performance

This model is not empirically supported

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Symptoms of stress

Digestive problems

Nervousness & Tension

Emotional Instability

Excessive use of alcohol or drugs

Feelings of inability

Uncooperative attitude

Sleeping problem / absenteeism

Chronic worry or inability to relax

High blood pressure


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Symptoms Anxiety (intense apprehension about possible threat)

Phobia (irrational fear about an object, situation or person)

Obsession (persistent unwanted ideas invading consciousness)

Depression (sense of loss / retardation) Faulty habits including drug abuse Communication problems including stammering, social phobia, etc Lack of concentration


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Faster heartbeat & Rapid breathing

Increased sweating

Cold hands and feet

Nausea & diarrhoea

Tense muscles and dry mouth

HOW TO RECOGNIZE STRESS


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Interference with clear judgment and decision making

Reduction of work enjoyment

Reduction in skill

The situation is perceived as a threat and not a challenge

The positive frame of mind is damaged by the promotion of negative thinking, narrowing of

attention and disruption of concentration

SHORT-TERM PERFORMANCE EFFECTS


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LONG TERM EFFECTS OF STRESS

A tendency to suffer from frequent headaches

The feeling of being constantly under strain

Being excessively tired much of the time

Tremor, perspiration, racing of heart beat

Poor sleep / Nightmare

Feelings easily hurt

Something to worry about always


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Dwelling on negative aspects of past and future

Overreaction to lifes small problem Expecting the worst to happen always Wanting to make sure that everything is all right

Unable to take decision or to concentrate Taking everything that goes wrong personally Experiencing panic reaction at times without reason


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General Stress Management Techniques

For SELF

Exercise to release endorphin, practice yoga

Avoid self-medication

Maintain sleep wakefulness cycle

Avoid caffeine, tea or fatty food, take whole food

Perform deep breathing exercise, continue deep muscle relaxation

Establish realistic target and stop negative self talk

Maintain a stress diary

Do not combat stress & make postural readjustment

Manage time effectively & do not take big decision

Improve attitude Drink more water Learn to say No


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For FAMILY members

Smile to help smiling

Be intimate with more touching behaviour

Promote eye contact

Do not give repetitive suggestions

Do not say Lucky, it wasnt worse

Do not entice to take big decisions


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Predictor of Stress : Head or Heart

Are these parts friends?

Is one part the boss?

How do these two communicate with each

other?

How do they react in the event of

disagreement?


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Persons with High Stress

Blind ambition : Tendency to win at all costs

Unrealistic goals: Setting up goals that are unattainable

Relentless striving: Working hard in a compulsive manner

Insatiable need for recognition/power: Being addicted to glory; tendency to blame others for own

mistakes

Preoccupation with appearances: Being overtly concerned about public image

Need to seem perfect : Inability to tolerate failure


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Persons with Low Stress

Self-awareness: Knowing how you feel in real time

Emotional literacy: Being able to label emotion precisely

Empathy and compassion: The ability to feel and understand the emotions of others

Balance: Being able to take decision striking a balance between emotion and reason

Responsibility: Taking primary responsibility for your own emotions and not saying that other made you feel the way you feel


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Distress Tension

Anxiety

Frustration

Strain

Trauma

Fear

Pressure

Eustress Challenge

Opportunity

Progress

Success

Achievements

excitements

Stress Change

Conflict

Criticism

Imbalance

Discomfort

Unexpectedness

Threat


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Stress and performance

Constructive stress.

Also known as eustress.

Moderate levels of stress act in a positive

way for both individuals and organization.

Destructive stress.

Also known as distress.

Low and especially high levels of stress act

in a negative way for both individuals and

organization.


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How does stress affect people at work?

Stress can harm peoples physical and psychological health.

Health problem associated with stress. Heart attack.

Stroke.

Hypertension.

Migraine headache.

Ulcers.

Depression.

Muscle aches.


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Key symptoms of excessive stress

Changes from:

Regular attendance to absenteeism.

Punctuality to tardiness.

Diligent work to careless work.

A positive attitude to a negative attitude.

Openness to change to resistance to

change.

Cooperation to hostility.


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Stress prevention

The best first-line strategy in battling

stress.

Involves taking action to keep stress

from reaching a destructive level.

Need to monitor personal and non-

work stressors and to be proactive in

preventing their adverse impact.


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Stress management

Accept its existence

Know your limit

Share

Take care of your health

Make time for fun and relaxation

Participate

Exercise

Meditate


Demands-Resources Model of Stress

Demands

Responsibilities, pressures, obligations, and uncertainties in the workplace

Resources

Things within an individuals control that can be used to resolve demands

Adequate resources help reduce the stressful nature of demands

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A Model of Stress

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Potential Sources of Stress

Environmental Factors

Economic uncertainties of the business cycle

Political uncertainties of political systems

Technological uncertainties of technical innovations

Organizational Factors

Task demands related to the job

Role demands of functioning in an organization

Interpersonal demands created by other employees

Personal Factors

Family and personal relationships

Economic problems from exceeding earning capacity

Personality problems arising from basic disposition

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Causes Of Stress

EXTERNAL

Major life changes

Work

Relationship difficulties

Financial problems

Being too busy

Children and family

Causes Of Stress

INTERNAL

Inability to accept uncertainty

Pessimism

Negative self-talk

Unrealistic expectations

Perfectionism

Lack of assertiveness


Managing Stress Individual Approaches

Implementing time management Increasing physical exercise Relaxation training Expanding social support network

Organizational Approaches Improved personnel selection and job placement Training Use of realistic goal setting Redesigning of jobs Increased employee involvement Improved organizational communication Offering employee sabbaticals Establishment of corporate wellness programs

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Strategies for Managing Stress:

Stress management strategy #1:

Avoid unnecessary stress

Learn how to say no

Avoid people who stress you out

Take control of your environment

Avoid hot-button topics

Pare down your to-do list

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Stress management strategy #2

Alter the situation

Express your feelings instead of bottling them up

Be willing to compromise

Be more assertive

Manage your time better

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Accept the things you cant change

Dont try to control the uncontrollable

Look for the upside

Share your feelings

Learn to forgive

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Adapt to the stressor

Reframe problems

Look at the big picture

Adjust your standards

Focus on the positive

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Assignment

What are the steps to be followed in STRESS MANAGEMENT.

Write down the Definitions of Stress from the following perspective

stimulus based definitions,

intervening process or transactional definitions, and

response-based definitions

lec 25 - stress

Documents

stress organizational

stressors stress

stress stressors

death stress

level of stress

nervous tension stress

stress pressure people

positive consequences