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
maide service in Park Ridge ..In the fast-paced world that we live in today, it... Read More
If you suffer from insomnia of any kind, the chances... Read More
Make stress less of an issue for you in your... Read More
"One day I'm a mother, One day I'm a lover,... Read More
Today we have more stress in our lives than ever... Read More
Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More
Q. I've been told that I need to learn from... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
Aromatherapy is very therapeutic when it comes to healing emotional... Read More
Deceiving? You bet they are. How? Without your even knowing... Read More
"Let your mind be quiet, realizing the beauty of the... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
We all have it; we live with it daily: stress.... Read More
Of all the sources of stress in our lives, faulty... Read More
Raise your hand if you have ever been rejected by... Read More
There are many kinds of daily grinds. In the U.S.... Read More
I'm so excited that I have discovered this secret today.... Read More
CHICAGO - According to a recent article in the September... Read More
Life is funny.Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous... Read More
Q. I have just recently come to recognize that I... Read More
This summer, get away, without going away. Take a mini... Read More
WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYSExperts in the stress management field have... Read More
Everyone worries. As bothersome as it is, worry isn't all... Read More
Question 1"How do I get more time to play?"Answer: Schedule... Read More
Often, in today's fast paced world, we forget to take... Read More
after renovation cleaning Highland Park ..Here's a fun little experiment:Take a few seconds and look... Read More
In a hectic world, it's all too easy to reach... Read More
What part of no don't you understand? - Bumper stickerThe... Read More
While free-lancing for business magazines, I was assigned to write... Read More
To combat modern day stressors, you need to realize that... Read More
One of the hardest forms of stress to avoid is... Read More
Voice: Bill!Bill: I thought I heard a voice.Voice: Bill! This... Read More
1. The Law of EveryoneIt is not neccessarily wrong to... Read More
Do you worry all the time?Do the following symptoms bother... Read More
Shit happens. I know this to be a fact, because... Read More
No need to go spend money at a spa! There... Read More
Feeling stressed? Who isn't!! In today's society, feeling "stressed out,"... Read More
Rhodiola Rosea is the latest natural remedy to join the... Read More
Today's workplace produces plenty of stress. Life's little hassles mount... Read More
We all know what it's like coming home from a... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
Insomnia is usually the result of the modern way of... Read More
It was a self-exploration that made me understand myself. It... Read More
It was one of the first words you learned to... Read More
If you have never tried combining your breathing exercises with... Read More
This heading may seem like a contradiction in terms. How... Read More
Many of my readers write to me about the tensions... Read More
Picture the following scene:It's Sunday evening, the weekend is winding... Read More
Have you ever considered sewing a handbag as an act... Read More
Stress can affect virtually any part of the body and... Read More
Stress Management |