Stress Management

by M.Umesh Chandra. 1st year, BBM.

Organizational Factors

Individual Factors

Experience Stress

Individual Differences

Environmental Factors

A Model of Stress

Enviromental Factors

•Economic Factors

•Political Factors

•Technological Factors

Organizational Factors

• Task Demands• Role Demands

• Organizational Structure• Organizational Leadership

Individual Factors

•Family Problems

•Economic Problems

Some people thrive on stressful situations, while others are overwhelmed by them. What is it that differentiates people in terms of their ability to handle stress?

perception, job experience, social support, and belief in locus of control - These 4 variables have been found to be relevant moderators.

Relevant Moderators

• Perception• Job experience• Social Support• Belief in Locus of Control

Perception

The stress potential in environmental, organizational, and individual factors doesn't lie in their objective condition. Rather, it lies in an employee's interpretation of those factors.

Job Experience

Experience is said to be a great teacher. It can also be a great stress-reducer.

Social Support

There is increasing evidence that social support — that is, collegial relationships with co-workers or supervisors — can buffer the impact of stress.

Belief in Locus of Control

Those with an internal locus of control believe they control their own destiny. Those with an external locus believe their lives are controlled by outside forces. Evidence indicates that internals perceive their jobs to be less stressful than do externals.

Experience Experience StressStress

Physical Symptoms• Headaches• High blood presure• Heart Disease

Psychological Symptoms• Anxiety• Depression• Decrease in job satisfaction

Behavioral symptoms• Productivity• Absenteeism• Turnover

Stress Management Strategies

Individual ApproachesOrganizational Approaches

Individual Approaches

Time ManagementPhysical Exercise

Relaxation TrainingSocial Support

Time Management

An understanding and utilization of basic time management principles can help individuals better cope with job demands.

Physical Exercise

Noncompetitive physical exercise such as aerobics, race walking, jogging, swimming, and riding a bicycle have long been recommended by physicians as a way to deal with excessive stress levels.

Relaxation TrainingIndividuals can teach themselves to relax through techniques such as meditation, hypnosis, and biofeedback. The objective is to reach a state of deep relaxation, where one feels physically relaxed, somewhat detached from the immediate environment, and detached from body sensations.

Social Support

Having friends, family, or work colleagues to talk to provides an outlet when stress levels become excessive. Expanding your social support network, therefore, can be a means for tension reduction.

Organizational Approaches

Selection and PlacementGoal Setting

Job RedesignParticipative Decision Making

Wellness Program

Selection and Placement

Individuals with little experience or an external locus of control tend to be more stress-prone. Selection and placement decisions should take these facts into consideration.

Goal Setting

The use of goals can reduce stress as well as provide motivation. Specific goals that are perceived as attainable clarify performance expectations. Additionally, goal feedback reduces uncertainties as to actual job performance. The result is less employee frustration, role ambiguity, and stress.

Job Redesign

Redesigning jobs to give employees more responsibility, more meaningful work, more autonomy, and increased feedback can reduce stress, because these factors give the employee greater control over work activities and lessen dependence on others.

Participative Decision Making

By giving these employees a voice in decisions that directly affect their job performances, management can increase employee control and reduce this role stress.

Wellness Program

These programs focus on the employee's total physical and mental condition.