The workplace itself is a great source of stress. The workplace has the ability to turn Type B personalities into Type A personalities. Workplaces that are more competitive, stressful, intensely quota oriented, and with poor management, can lead to high level of stress and stress related deaths.
Some workplaces are far more peaceful but work itself must have some level of stress. It is essential to have goals and meet certain standards, but without moderation, stress and anxiety can emerge. It is important to be balanced but unfortunately, it is difficult to find the perfect career that is balanced. In some cases, they can be found, but ultimately, many deal with some types of stress in the workplace. Whether its the workload, dissatisfaction, management, or inter personal relations, stress can quickly overload into family and personal life.
Type A workplace environments are best listed with these qualities. First, tasks are either extremely overloading or not enough. Second, goals are unclear or even unrealistic to achieve. Third, one’s career can be blocked towards future advancement or self fulfillment. Finally, the hierarchy or management may seem unresponsive in meeting the needs of employees. (1) A Type B workplace on other hand has clear priorities and no worker ambiguity. Goals are clear and one’s career can develop and advance. Finally, management is responsive to needs of employees.
Work overload is one of the biggest issues of stress. It has the potential to kill yet individuals with this type of “battle fatigue” slug forward without noticing the mental and physical tear. These individuals work longer than 40 hours a week, bring work home with them, and find little time for relaxation.
Goals are also a source of stress. Sometimes in workplaces, goals are so far fetched or unclear that they are impossible to meet. The goals may be unable to be met due to lack of proper training, or due to lack of time. It is important to reduce stress that management defines objectives in a clear way and enables their team to meet those objectives with proper training or appropriate time.
Careers without meaning can also become a source of stress. While everyone at some point has worked a meaningless job from time to time, no greater stress can be found when one works a meaningless job for a long period of time with no end in sight. A person’s career or lack of career can become a huge source of anxiety and stress. As one hits middle age, one looks to see where they are going and where they have been. When one does not meet his or her expectations, then stress can set it.
One needs to identify dead end jobs or careers and see how change can be implemented. Is the dead-end due to to the organization itself? Is it due to one’s lack of involvement within the organization? Essentially, what is the source of one’s lack of advancement. Is it the employee or the company? Furthermore, one can look outside of the company to meet needs through hobbies, as well as volunteer programs or education.
How management responds to the needs of their employees is also key. Some management teams and organizations are bureaucratic and apply rules and regulations over common sense and oral discussion. These types of organizations become more impersonal. This creates a divide between the company and employee.
When employees cannot control part of their job or have a reasonable understanding of what to expect, it can negatively affect morale and work performances. Unresponsive, impersonal and ambiguous management can cause unneeded stress on a workforce and affect output.
Stress Management Consultants are utilized to address these organizational issues for many firms and companies. Companies in the 21st century are finally realizing that stress not only kills employees and costs them millions of dollars annually on disability, but that it also affects morale and output. Output can be increased by creating a more Style B company plan. It is essential that employees are treated with dignity and respect. Not all employees are good people but if companies reduce stress, the reward of output from most employees will outweigh any negatives.
Companies can work within their Human Resource Department and implement various stress management policies to help reduce discontent and increase mental well being. This in turn can increase output and save cost. Companies can hire experts in stress management or have their own HR department become certified in stress management techniques that can be utilized in the workplace and also applied to company goals and standards.
If you would like to learn more about stress management or would like to become certified through AIHCP in Stress Management Consulting, then please review the program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
- The Stress Management Sourcebook by J Barton Cunningham (PhD)