This document discusses stress management in the context of supervision. It defines stress and identifies common stressors like work load, people, mind, and body stressors. It then discusses the impact of supervision, distinguishing between eustress (positive stress) and distress (negative stress). Good supervision helps maintain eustress by guiding employees, while bad supervision causes distress through behaviors like being absent, overly controlling, or abusive. The document provides tips for coping with different types of difficult supervisors and improving relationships by showing respect, communicating issues, and suggesting solutions. Overall, it emphasizes the importance of managing relationships with supervisors for career success.

1. Stress Management – Supervision

2. What is Stress? Stress is your mind and body’sresponse or reaction to a real or imaginedthreat, event or change.

3. What are your stressors? Work Load Stressors People Stressors Mind Stressors Body Stressors

4. Work Load Stressors Always too much work; never able to relax Excessive workload; over-lapping deadlines Tedious or meaningless tasks. Unreasonable performance demands One or two difficult tasks take all my time; no time left for anything else

5. Work Load Stressors Seems like I have a lot more work than my colleagues I have to work harder than my colleagues and to get the same results Efforts often seem for nothing – Don’t get satisfying results My stress is complicated by commitments I can’t get out of!

6. People Stressors Distant, uncommunicative supervisors. Poor performance from subordinates. Office politics, competition, and other conflicts among staff. Bullying or harassment. Problems caused by excessive time away from family. Conflicting job demands. Multiple supervisors.

7. Mind Stressors Worry about what people think? No time to think, always having to do Tendency to get too worked up when under pressure or in a crisis Tendency to get down, dwell on how bad things are

8. Body Stressors Insufficient sleep Frequent colds, sickness Negative effects from caffeine, nicotine, etc. Uncomfortable chair, poor posture, excessive time hunched over desk or computer.

9. Body Stressors Eye Strain(small fonts, poor lighting, computer screen overload) Inadequate nutrition, missed meals, reliance on junk food Lack of exercise Aversive environment

10. What are your Emotional and Physical Reactions?

11. FightorFlight

12. Recognize what You can change Can you change your stressors by avoiding or eliminating the source? Can you reduce their intensity? (manage them over time instead of immediately) Can you shorten your exposure to stress? (take a break, leave) Can you devote the time necessary to make a change?

13. Build your physical reserve Exercise or Jogging Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine and other stimulants Mix leisure with work. Take breaks and get away Get enough sleep. Be consistent with your sleep schedule

14. Maintain your emotional reserves Develop mutually supportive friendships/relationships. Pursue realistic goals which are meaningful to you, rather than goals other have for you that you do not share. Expect some frustrations, failures and sorrows. Always be kind and gentle with yourself – be a friend to yourself.

15. Eliminating stress from environment Improve your air quality Adjust lightning intensity Manage decoration and tidiness Eliminate noise Maintain personal space Breathing and meditation Focusing on object / sound Imagery

16. Personal Improvements Personal improvements you consider necessary to manage your stress factors Personally handling your stressors and improving yourself is enough to eliminate it? Might be possible for Mind and Body stressors But Work and People stressors are mainly caused due to reasons not in your control

17. Supervision Supervision is the supervisor’scontrolling behaviortowards the work or task being done by his/her subordinate.

18. Controlling Behavior EUSTRESS Eustress or ‘positive’ stress occurs when your level of stress is high enough to motivate you to move into action to get things accomplished. DISTRESS Distress or ‘negative’ stress occurs when your level of stress is either too high or too low and your body and/or mind begin to respond negatively to the stressors.

19. Impact of supervision on stressors Good supervision helps maintain eustress, which motivates employee to work efficiently. Bad supervision causes distress, which raises conflict in supervisor/subordinate relationship eventually results disruption in work.

20. Good supervision A good supervisor maintains a good relationship with his/her subordinates. A supervisor’s job is not to control you, but to guide you and your peers to do the best possible work that helps whole organization to benefit & fulfill its purpose.

21. Good supervision A supervisor’s job is different than of his/her subordinates task or assignments. A good supervisor coaches you, notices when you have done well, identifies you to be an integral part, and motivates you to do even better.

22. Good supervision:Your responsibility Value Gain knowledge Communicate Be a friend or a son Manage your negative reactions Rid yourself of destructive thoughts Be honest Hard times behavior Think it through Introduce the topic Ask for some feedback Practice the rules of fair fighting Listen more than talk

23. Bad supervision A ‘difficult’ supervisor impose unrealistic ideals which makes the work more demanding. A ‘difficult’ supervisor can either be a hands off (absentee manager) when you need regular direction in work, OR can be hands on (ever-present manager) when you need strong autonomy in work (self-government)

24. Bad supervision:‘Difficult’ or ‘Hard’ supervisor The weak supervisor The political supervisor The black and white supervisor The obsessive micro-supervisor The invisible supervisor The task master The nasty supervisor The bullying supervisor

25. The Weak Supervisor Characteristics Aggressively avoids taking risks He’s vague – not clearly understood or felt May also be ill-trained, and lacking management skills He won’t stand up for you How to cope with? Work around him Give yourself the feedback you need Only talk to him on critical issues and to the point

26. The Political Supervisor Characteristics Ability to portray himself worthy or good Only involve you on issues that serves his agenda He’s sneaky and plays favorites Doesn’t sympathize with you in any way How to cope with? Support his need of recognition on strategic tasks Focus your own efforts on ‘high value’ tasks Don’t trust to consider your interests

27. The Black & White Supervisor Characteristics Doesn’t get it, may be because he is very concrete Doesn’t understand slight difference in meaning, context, logic, or high-level ideas How to cope with? Ignore his intellectual deficiency Shape communications to his needs Maintain fact-oriented discussion rather than arguments based on ideas

28. The Obsessive Micro-Supervisor Characteristics Severe trust issues; just like a trusting a ten year old to drive a car No matter how much detail you give him, how many time redo a piece of work, it’s still not right Makes you completely de-motivated and lose your sense of confidence and competence How to cope with? Write down the issues you are facing Try taking those issue in account with higher supervision

29. The Invisible Supervisor Characteristics You have no one to go for directions; no idea of the pending task and work load No feedback on the effort you put in He/She may be invisible because of a busy schedule, reluctant to work or an unskilled supervisor How to cope with? Take all possible steps at your end, do the task even if you consider it wrongfully done Try to set standards for your own self, make regular follow-ups on tasks to be completed

30. The Task Master Characteristics He/She doesn’t have a life and doesn’t expect you to either You’re loaded with work but he/she keeps giving more His/Her time-lines are ridiculous So focused on getting the work done that he/she isn’t aware of the impact of his/her behavior How to cope with? Create your own realistic standards Don’t be apologetic for creating work-life balance

31. The Nasty Supervisor Characteristics Ruthless and enjoys you moving around twisted in discomfort Apparently so task-focused that he is blind to see how his behavior makes you feel How to cope with? You face him directly, if he apologizes, then try to accommodate and cooperate for the work benefit

32. Good vs. Bad Supervision It is a joy to work with a supervisor who is understanding, caring, and supportive. Such association adds to the pleasure of pursuing a career, not just working for a steady paycheck. The situation is not always constructive. Adverse feelings arises when supervisors lack feedback, clear guidelines and expectation, recognition or trust.

33. Good vs. Bad Supervision No matter how bad the situation be, try to: Speak with him, about the behavior in case if he/she is unaware of Avoid judgments about his/her personality If you love your job and enjoy the people you are working then just ignore your supervisor “Smile and the world will smile with you.” Try to find a mentor or co-worker who can improve your psychological potential

34. Bad Supervision:Improve your relationship Show respect Don’t be afraid of your boss Do your best Give honest feedback Don’t try to hide problems Break important news fast Maintain your boundaries Manage your anger Embrace your strengths Face your shortcomings Say thanks for recognition Ask for more information Suggest a solution, new ideas Respond to criticism Be positive Be able to joke around

35. Golden Words(Final Thought) It’s nice to imagine that success of your career rests upon your basic competence at doing your job, but that’s only half the picture Raises, promotions, and other perks depend directly on how well you can manage your supervisor Marinating a healthy relationship builds a personal rapport and he/she will keep your best interest in mind