How much attention is paid to one of the biggest underlying risk factors within an organisation ? the effects of stress? Not only are there a lot of potential risks arising from the spread of stress within an organisation, it costs them a great deal of money!!
Let us start with looking at some hard-nosed numbers (based on the UK.).
Where an organisation is suffering from stress problems there will be a number of probable consequences, all with ensuing costs to the business. Also, what other risks might they contribute to?
Before going further into these, let us consider what is meant by this word, "stress". The HSE define it as "the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them." A simpler option is to think of it as "the internalisation of pressure ? where it exceeds your ability to cope." When we hear people say things such as "We all need some degree of stress", what is really being said is that we need some level of pressure to galvanise us to action. These pressures can come from all sorts of sources in a work and personal lives ? and within ourselves too.
The figure below, "The Pressure Curve" shows what we mean by this. If the amount of pressure is not high enough, we do not feel the need to respond and so performance is likely to be down. (Wonderfully called "rust out" in certain circles.) Have you ever gone into a shop, restaurant or somewhere on a very quiet day? What was the response and service like? This end of the scale can lead to problems from the boredom level!
Get the pressure "right" and we are triggered to respond in the most effective way ? and will operate at our "optimal performance" level. Moving along towards the end, the pressure levels increase and when this is too much the response is what most people think of as the classic stress problem, "burn out".
This rarely just "happens" suddenly. The pressures build up, the symptoms will become more and more obvious, the physiological and behavioural clues will be more noticeable. If the situation does not change, and the pressure become more manageable, the person who is at this end will probably start to become ill as the body sends out signals to say it needs to protect itself against this burnout.
The challenge facing managers with this concept is to identify what is the "optimal" amount of pressure for each person in their team. We each interpret pressures in different ways. What one of us may shrug off, another will think of as a crisis and vice versa. Add to this, we all have various pressures influencing us which are external to our work. These can range from personal relationships to financial, environmental to practical such as travelling. Then there is the human capacity to create pressure on ourselves through having unreasonable expectations or by finding things to worry about over which we have no control! How well do managers know their team members to assess their personal "negative" and "positive" pressures?
Why do the figures show such an increase in stress related problems in recent years? Has that much changed? In short, yes! There are a number of factors, and these are an indicator and not a comprehensive list.
One of the first things to acknowledge that there is a risk. Too many managers, especially senior executives, want to hide their heads in the sand and deny that there is a problem, or potential problem. They certainly do not want to suggest that they may be a significant contributor to the problem! Stress is not a problem confined to the executive suite! In fact, a higher percentage of the workforce down the line will suffer stress-related problems than senior management. Having said that, the consequences to the organisation and the people of an over-stressed senior manager can be horrendous!
The organisation can use a number of factors to assess whether there is problem. As in most forms of good management, gathering data is key. Work from facts and not only conjecture, though do not ignore it.
One of the "standards" is to look at absenteeism, both the levels and any patterns. Is the level static or increasing? Is any area of the organisation suffering more than the others? What happens when employees return to work, do you have a meeting with them to find out the real reasons for the absence, and what you can do to prevent them recurring? Also, will the organisation offer support to help the employee? If there is a pattern in one area, what is being done to address the cause? (Is it the nature of the work, or the manager or the environment?)
Look at the quality information. Is there an increase in errors, customer complaints or, are other standards not being achieved? Before chasing the teams or individuals and demanding improvements, explore why things have begun to slip. Talk to people about what is going on and how they feel.
What is happening to the staff turnover figures? Any trends apparent? Is the organisation using exit interviews to find the real reasons behind the departure?
To get a proper overview as an organisation, a good starting point is to carry out a simple audit. Questions in these areas will help to get an immediate sense of where the organisation is in terms of meeting the HSE criteria. It will also highlight where issues may occur.
Another thing for the management team to do, is to develop an understanding of stress, its causes, symptoms and consequences. They can then begin to operate in a way which will create a healthier organisation. They can monitor the "health" using the approach above ? and then set about managing to maintain a healthy environment. The secret to stress management is not about learning to relax, exercise or other coping strategies, although these do help. It is about getting to the cause of the problem and dealing with it from there. Good management practices, good communication, and supporting and caring for people will all help to reduce the risk of stress. Reduce stress and you reduce risks in many other areas of the business.
Graham Yemm a founding partner of Solutions 4 Training Ltd.During his years as a consultant he has worked with a variety of major companies in the U.K., Europe, USA, the Middle East and Russia in Sales, People and Management Skills. He has had many years of experience tailoring programmes to address organisational issues around sales, account management, negotiations, sales management and customer service ? especially focusing on the communication and personal skills aspects.
Graham is a Master Practitioner of NLP and was involved with setting up and running "The Business Group", which promotes uses of NLP in organisations. He is an accredited trainer for the LAB profile programme ? "Words that Change Minds". His personal enjoyment comes from helping individuals to take more responsibility for their own actions? freeing them to feel they can make more choices about their lives.
Contact http://solutions4training.com or +1483 480656
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Breathing is the vital force of life. It is considered... Read More
Stress is more than just unpleasant. It's dangerous. Try these... Read More
This summer, get away, without going away. Take a mini... Read More
Among the hardest parts of living in the modern world... Read More
When Army leaders fail to control battlefield stress, they lose... Read More
I'm sure you have heard of IBS, irritable bowel syndrome,... Read More
Q: "My career, though very very stressful, is one that... Read More
Imagine driving down the road. You are driving with a... Read More
Q. I've suffered a few setbacks and disappointments in the... Read More
I had the unpleasant experience of being pulled over the... Read More
In order to free ourselves from the pain of anger... Read More
No this is not related to praying, this is how... Read More
Punch a pillowScream into a pillowTurn on your favorite music... Read More
"Slow down, you move too fast, you've got to make... Read More
Do you ever fret? In today's materialistic age, sometimes fretting... Read More
1. Acknowledge that requesting support, guidance and partnership is not... Read More
File this one under the category of "watch your language."The... Read More
Ask a hundred different people how to deal with stress... Read More
Statistics show that all of us experience stress at one... Read More
* The material presented in this article is provided for... Read More
Managing stress is not easy if you don't have the... Read More
Learn to have healthy relationships:This subject could fill an entire... Read More
The number one most popular issue that users of a... Read More
Why is it that some people become totally stressed when... Read More
As Montaigne said, "he who fears he will suffer, already... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..We strive for excellence in our lives, going at full... Read More
Many people go through the motions during Christmas. If not... Read More
I hear from many people that they see ever increasing... Read More
STRESS & TIME MANAGEMENT: Stress is either the source or... Read More
Feeling stressed out lately? Don't worry, there is a simple... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Stress at Home1. Create... Read More
Caring for a chronically ill loved one can be one... Read More
Author and speaker H. Stephen Glenn has said,"In terms of... Read More
Stress, America's #1 health problem, is a leading cause of... Read More
Are You Too Stressed?Is your stomach all tied up in... Read More
I love a good story and I know I'm not... Read More
A grandfather, whose grandson came to him angry at a... Read More
All stress comes from believing a thought that argues with... Read More
Positive self-esteem is very important for our general health and... Read More
"Watch your language."We all heard this admonition as kids and... Read More
One of my favorite stories about change is the story... Read More
We are not designed for long term stress.It causes us... Read More
Recently I completed some new workshop engagements in addition to... Read More
Most of us lead busy lives, trying to successfully juggle... Read More
Lake Hopatcong, NJ (PRWEB) November 30, 2004 -- Here are... Read More
"Do you want to be a lump of coal or... Read More
Do you feel that you just don't have the time... Read More
Everyday can be full of stress but we all deserve... Read More
Where does stress really come from? Is there any simple... Read More
When it is all said and done, do you feel... Read More
Stress Management |