Managing Stress

1. Managing Stress

2. Overview • Definition of Stress • Elements of Stress • Reactions to Stress • Defense Mechanisms • Coping Strategies • Time Management • Exercise

4. Definition An environment filled with reinforcing or opposing forces that either stimulate or inhibit performance

5. Effects of Stress • Takes $500 billion from economy yearly • Adversely affects health of half the adult population • Costs $550 million in workdays lost each year • Leads to 40% of U.S. worker turnover • Is a factor in 60-80% job accidents

6. Elements of Stress • A balance or imbalance of: • Driving Forces (stressors) • Restraining Forces (resiliency)

7. Elements of Stress Current Level of Functioning Restraining Force A Driving Force A Driving Force B Restraining Force B Restraining Force C Driving Force C Driving Force D Restraining Force D Modified from Lewin’s Force Field

8. Elements of Stress • Driving Forces (Stressors) • Time: too much in too little time • Encounters: interpersonal issues • Situation (environmental): long hours/changes • Anticipatory: expected tense climate

9. Elements of Stress • Restraining Forces (Resiliency) • Physiological: cardiovascular conditioning & dietary control • Psychological: control, commitment, challenge develops “hardiness” • Social: friendships, mentor relationships, cohesive work teams

10. Reactions to Stress • General Reactions • Alarm • Resistance • Exhaustion

11. Reactions to Stress • Managerial Reactions • Narrow View (tunnel vision) • Intolerant & Demanding • Fixate on Single Approach • Adopt a Crisis Mentality • Oversimplify Issues • Consult Others Less Often • Rely on Old Habits • Less Creative Problem Solving Stress not only affects employees and followers but get in the way of effective management and leadership

12. Stress Model Experiencing Stress • Stressors • Anticipatory • Encounter • Time • Situational • Reactions • Physiological • Psychological • Resiliency • Physical • Psychological • Social

13. Defense Mechanisms • Aggression - attack the stressor • Regression - childish • Repression - denial • Withdrawal - attention gap/escape • Fixation – pointless persistence

14. Coping Strategies • Enactive – creating non-stress environment • Proactive – increasing resiliency • Reactive – short-term Managing Stress Enactive Strategies Proactive Strategies Reactive Strategies Purpose Eliminate Stressors Develop resiliency strategies Learn temporary coping mechanisms Effects Approach Permanent Long Term Short Term Time Enactive Proactive Reactive Long Time Moderate Time Immediate

15. Time Management • Long-term – Effective • Important vs. Urgent • Focus on results • Short-term – Efficient • Calendars, to do lists, planning tools • Just say “no” • Eliminate major time stressors (effective) use the time you have to focus on important and urgent things (efficiency)

16. Time Management • Efficient Techniques • Hold routine day-end meetings • Hold short stand-up meetings • Set meeting time deadlines • Cancel light-agenda meetings • Set agenda • Stick to it • Keep track of time • Start meetings on time

17. Time Management • Efficient Techniques • Prepare minutes, follow up on decisions • Insist followers suggest solutions • Meet visitors in office doorway • Visit subordinates’ office for brief meetings • Don’t over-schedule your day • Have someone else take calls, scan email • Have place to work uninterrupted • Do something definitive w/ every piece of paper

18. Time Management • Efficient Techniques • Keep work area clean • Delegate work • Identify amount of effort • Give others credit for success

19. Summary • Definition of Stress • Elements of Stress • Reactions to Stress • Defense Mechanisms • Coping Strategies • Time Management • Exercise