It is no secret that stress and related disorders are the most frequent cause of employee disability (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). As far back as 1992, a United Nations report called job stress a "world wide epidemic.
Control of workplace stress is a leadership responsibility. Good leaders who recognize the symptoms of stress can control situations to create more desirable workplaces and to improve both productivity and the bottom line.
Corporate leaders who have served in the military recognize employee stress when they observe symptoms such as:
1 Anxiety
2 Indecisiveness
3 Irritability
4 Complaining
5 Forgetfulness
6 Loss of self confidence
7 Argumentativeness
8 Insomnia
9 Rapid emotional shifts
10 Physical exhaustion
Symptoms such as these cost companies billions of dollars each year in health care costs, absenteeism, accidents, quality control, personnel turnover, and various interpersonal relationship problems.
Some managers mistakenly try to control stressful problems by increasing demands and supervising details. Increased urgency and focus on details typically generates even more stress. The problems shift from slight distractions, such as back pain, headaches, and inattention, to more drastic reactions such as absenteeism and medical problems, both good indicators that stress levels need attention.
Just as in the Army, most business leaders must be taught to manage stress and to observe for negative stress reactions. All managers need to understand the importance of positive stress in maximizing accuracy and productivity. And they need to know how to control the negative stress for the benefit of those involved and the bottom line.
If you don't have qualified staff in your company, outside consultants and trainers can help you evaluate current stress levels and train everyone involved. Remember, stress control is a leadership responsibility.
Get my article about controlling the top ten workplace stressors by sending blank email MailTo:10stressors@couragebuilders.com
Copyright 2005
You may edit this article for length or content to fit your space and audience requirements and publish electronically or in print free of charge. Include my full byline and add a hyperlink for web postings. When you publish, please send a courtesy link or email to collie@couragebuilders.com
Dale Collie (MailTo:collie@couragebuilders.com) speaker, author, and former US Army Ranger, CEO,and professor at West Point. Selected by "Fast Company" as one of America's Fast 50 innovative leaders. Author of "Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom," and "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success the US Army Way." (McGraw-Hill) http://www.couragebuilders.com
bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..In order to understand stress better, it is a good... Read More
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More
If you live in the early part of the twenty-first... Read More
Do you get frustrated with your spouse, your kids, your... Read More
Work related tensions, personal issues and abnormal lifestyles are the... Read More
Why are you so busy? Do you really have too... Read More
This is a tool to measure the amount of stress... Read More
"Smash!" It was a sunny autumn Saturday. My cousins and... Read More
A friend has this quotation on his office wall: "I... Read More
Comedian George Carlin once remarked, "Have your ever noticed? Anyone... Read More
What would you say if I told you I know... Read More
There is good stress, and there is bad stress. Good... Read More
We all know what it's like coming home from a... Read More
Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the... Read More
... Read More
Stress is more than just unpleasant. It's dangerous. Try these... Read More
Did you ever feel like your "get-up-and-go" got up and... Read More
Is your in-tray or inbox full? I don't normally check... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
Most humans experience unexpected setbacks which can cause huge stress... Read More
Are you a "worry wart?" Is that term familiar to... Read More
Probably the least appreciated form of stress is college stress.... Read More
If you are an anxiety and panic sufferer, then you've... Read More
There may be so much you want to change in... Read More
26 ways to minimize and manage the unhealthy effects of... Read More
insured cleaning company Wilmette ..Conceptualizing stress: Stress often has a negative connotation. Failure, illnesses,... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
Why are you so busy? Do you really have too... Read More
So, you've recognised that you are suffering from stress and... Read More
Insomnia is usually the result of the modern way of... Read More
Stress management is a hot topic; stress-related illness and suffering... Read More
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a... Read More
Stress ReliefStress is a big business in Western society. We... Read More
But how can this happen to someone?Let's concentrate on how... Read More
When was the last time you took a day just... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
According to the Australian Council of Trade Unions' (A.C.T.U.) 1997... Read More
Whenever we think of 'stress', negative thoughts come into our... Read More
1) Create the life you desireTwo of our most underdeveloped... Read More
Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More
According to the StressPulse survey by ComPsych Corporation completed at... Read More
One of the ways I have avoided a lot of... Read More
Learning methods of stress elimination is a vital skill in... Read More
Did you know that taking a short trip, such as... Read More
Loneliness and separation are the real illness of our times.... Read More
Q: We recently had someone come to our company to... Read More
1. The Law of GiftsRichard Bach, author of "Illusions" says... Read More
Stressed? Relax Right Now with 5 Super-Simple Stress-BustersStressed-out? Don't know... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
More than two-thirds of visits to doctors' surgeries are for... Read More
Stress Management |