This document discusses work stress and stress management. It defines stress as an individual's response to disturbing environmental factors. Sources of stress can originate at the individual, group, organizational, and extra-organizational levels. Stress has behavioral, cognitive, and physiological consequences like decreased job satisfaction. The document outlines strategies for managing stress at the individual level through relaxation techniques, and at the organizational level through initiatives like job redesign and workshops. Managing stress requires understanding one's stressors and using both mental and physical techniques.

1. WORKS STRESS
&
STRESS MANAGEMENT
Presented by
B.K.Samanta
Roshan.k
1st Semester

2. STRESS
• Stress is an individual’s response to a disturbing factor in
the Environment, and the consequence of such reaction.
• Stress obviously involves interaction of the Person and
the environment.
• Stress is an adaptive response to an external situation
that results in Physical, Psychological and or Behavioral
deviations for Organizational Participants.
• The Physical or Psychological demands from the
environment that cause stress are called Stressors.

3. How an individual experiences Stress depends on
• The Person’s Perception of the Situation
• The Person’s Past Experience.
• The Presence or Absence of Social Support.
Symptoms of Stress :
• Symptoms of stress vary from the psychological, in
the form of Anxiety and Depression.
• Physical, in the form of Headaches, Insomnia, Bowel
Problems and Impotence.

4. • In its severest forms stress can lead to
Hypertension, Heart Attacks and Mental Breakdown.
• Now a days it is also being blamed for causing cancer.
Sources of Stress
• Stressors originate at Individual, Group, Organizational
and Extra-Organizational Levels.
Individual level Stressors :
• These relate directly to a Person’s Personality and Job
Responsibilities.
• The most common individual level Stressors are Type of
Personality, Role Overload, Role Conflict and Role
Ambiguity.

5. Personality Type
• Type A Personality is Stress Prone as it is associated with
the following Behavioral Patterns :
• Always Moves, Walks and Eats Rapidly.
• Feels impatient with the pace of things, hurries
others, dislikes waiting.
• Does several things Simultaneously.
• Feels guilty when relaxing.
• Tries to schedule more and more in less and less time.
• Uses nervous gestures such as clenched fist, banging
the hand on the table.
• Does not have time to enjoy life.

6. • Type A Personalities, in this sense, bring stress on
themselves.
• The Type B Personality, on the other hand, is less Stress
Prone.
• Following are the typical characteristics of Type B
Personality:
 Is not concerned about time.
 Is Patient.
 Does not Brag
 Play to Fun, not to win.
 Relaxes without feeling Guilty.
 Has no Pressing Deadlines.
 Is mild-mannered.
 Is never in a hurry.

7. Group Level Stressors :
• Group Level Stressors are caused by Group Dynamics
and Managerial Behaviors.
• Managers create Stress for Employees by
• Exhibiting Inconsistent Behaviors.
• Failing to Provide Support.
• Showing Lack of Concern.
• Providing inadequate Direction.
• Creating a High Productivity Environment.
• Focusing on Negatives while ignoring Good
Performance.

8. • Sexual Harassment is yet another Group Level
Stressor.
• Sexual Harassment refers to unwelcome conduct of a
Sexual nature that affects the job-related performance
of an Employee adversely.
• Another serious Interpersonal Stressor is the rising
wave of Physical Violence and Aggression in the
Workplace.
• Workplace Violence includes Assaults, Rape and
Threats using a Weapon.

9. Organizational Stressors :
• Organizational Stressors affect large number of
Employees.
• Organizational Climate is a Prime Example.
• A High Pressure Environment that places chronic work
demands on Employees fuels the Stress Response.
• In Contrast, Participative Management can reduce
Organizational Level Stressors.
• Poor Lighting, Loud Noise, Improper placement of
Furniture, and a Dirty and Smelly Environment can
create Stress.

10. • Organizational Structure defines the level of
differentiation, the degree of Rules and
Regulations, and where decisions are made.
• Excessive Rules and lack of Participation in decision
that affect an employee are examples of Structural
variables that might be potential stressors.
• Organizational Leadership represents Managerial
style of the Organization’s Senior Executives.
• Some Chief Executive Officers create a culture
characterized by Tension, Fear , and Anxiety.
• They establish unrealistic pressures to perform in the
short run, impose excessively tight controls etc.

11. Extra Organizational Stressors :
 Extra Organizational Stressors are caused by factors
outside the Organization.
 For Instance, conflicts associated with one’s career and
family life are stressful.
 Home Life certainly impact’s one’s attitudes and
performance at work.
 Death of a Spouse, Injury to one’s child, Failure in School
or at Work and other life events can be stressful.
 Socioeconomic Status represents a combination of
 Economic Status as measured by Income
 Social Status assessed by Educational Level
 Work Status as indexed by Occupation.

12. Effects of Stress
 Stress has Behavioral, cognitive and Physiological
Consequences.
 Research Studies indicate that Stress is negatively related to
Job Satisfaction, Organizational Commitment and
Performance and positively related to Turnover.
Burnout
 Burnout is a troublesome outcome of Stress.
 Burnout is a state of mind resulting from prolonged exposure
to emotional stress.
 It manifests through Emotional Exhaustion and a
combination of Negative Attitudes.

13. • Burnouts occurs due to prolonged exposure to Stress and
that too in phases.
• The Three key phases of Burnout are
• Emotional Exhaustion
• Depersonalization
• Feeling a lack of Personal Accomplishment
• Emotional Exhaustion is due to a combination of
Personal, Job and Organizational Stressors.
• People who expect a lot from themselves and the
Organization in which they work tend to create more
internal stress, which in turn leads to Emotional
Exhaustion.

14. • Emotional Exhaustion is fuelled by having too much
work to do, by role conflict and by the type of
interpersonal interactions encountered at work.
• Overtime, Emotional Exhaustion leads to
Depersonalization, which is the state of psychologically
withdrawing from one’s job.
• This finally results in a feeling of being
unappreciated, ineffective or inadequate.
• The addictive effect of these three phases is a host of
negative attitudinal and behavioral outcomes.

16. Stress Management
 Stress Reduction Strategies may be categorized into
 Individual Strategies
 Organizational Strategies
Individual Strategies :
 First Step in managing Stress is to understand that the
individual is exposed to Stressors.
 Stress cannot be managed unless we know that what
causes stress and how these causes are affecting us
Psychologically, Physiologically and Organizationally.

17. Individual Strategies to cope with Stress include :
 Muscle Relaxation
 Biofeedback
 Meditation
 Cognitive Restructuring
 Time Management
Organizational Strategies :
Organizational Strategies help reduce the harmful effects of
Stress in three ways:
 Identify and then modify or eliminate work stressors
 Help Employees modify their perception and
understanding of work stress.
 Help Employees cope more effectively with the
outcomes of the Stress.

18.  Organizational Strategies aimed at removing Stress often
include removing Stress often include :
• Improvements in the Physical Environment
• Job redesign to remove stressors
• Changes in workloads and deadlines
• Structural Reorganization
• Changes in work schedules, more flexible hours
• Greater level of Employee Participation.
• Workshops dealing with Role clarity and Role
Analysis.

19. ORGANISATIONAL INITIATIVES :
• Team building
• Time management workshops
• Job burnout workshops
• Training in relaxation techniques
• Career counseling

20. MENTAL TECHNIQUES
• Time management
• Organize
• Problem solving attitude
• Think Positive

21. DIVERSIONS
• Music
• Hobbies
• Play
• Learning
• Vacation

22. PHYSICAL TECHNIQUES
• Body Scan – “relax-let go”
• Deep breathing
• Exercise
• Meditation
• Nutrition
• Rest
• Laughter

23. WORKPLACE SKILLS
• Delegate
• Anticipate problems
• Be assertive
• Be decisive
• Organize
• Balance work and personal
time

24. 10 Ways to Relieve Stress:
1. Take a few deep breaths. This makes you breathe slower and
helps your muscles relax.
2. Exercise - take a walk during the day.
3. Think positive. Remember the things that are good in your life.
4. Take a good stretch. Stretching makes muscles relax and helps
you feel less tense.
5. Massage the tense muscles. The muscles in the back of your neck
and upper back usually get tense when you are stressed.
6. Take hot baths or showers to help you relax.
7. Listen to soothing music.
8. Talk to your family and friends about your feelings. It is
important for them to know how you feel so they can help you.

25. “winners don’t do different things ,
they do things differently”
-By Shiv Khera
William James ~ The greatest weapon against stress is our ability
to choose one thought over another ~
In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep
busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.