...Effective Strategies for Managing Stress in the Workplace In today’s uncertain economic times, stress in the workplace is taking its toll on managers and employees from Wall Street to Main Street. Dealing with stress regarding budget cuts, possible layoffs, diversity issues, personality conflicts, and a wide range of other concerns can cause serious implications in the workplace. Identifying potential stressors early on is crucial to the well-being of employees. This review provides strategies that management can utilize in order to obtain balance in the office. Taking steps to avert or ease tension in the workplace is key to the overall success of an organization. According to Webster’s Dictionary (2005), stress is defined as mental or physical tension (p.638). This definition encompasses a wide range of possibilities. The reality is that stress is a part of everyday life. All of us experience some form of stress on a daily basis. Unhealthy levels of stress can have serious implications in the office if issues are unresolved. Fortunately, there are warning signs: loss of confidence, irritability, decrease in productivity, and an increase in sick/personal days. Personality differences among employees can lead to a tense and less productive work environment. Differences in race, gender, religious conviction, sexual orientation, and age can cause fear and uneasiness among employees. These feelings are often associated with confusion or powerlessness. Diversity and sensitivity...
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...Running head: ORGANIZATIONAL TRENDS DISCUSSION Organizational Trends Discussion Team B University of Phoenix Organizational Behavior and Group Dynamics MGT/307 Jack Land October 13, 2011 Organizational Trends Discussion High performance organizations are known as successful businesses. In order for them to be successful, they need to have a strong management to gain that success. The work environment can be a very stressful place to work in, but it can also be very rewarding if managed properly. This paper discusses the characteristics of a high performance organization and stress management techniques. High performance workplaces and organizations are entities that have developed and maintained certain successful processes that allow them to foster employees' commitment/dedication, service their customers effectively, and remain competitive. Examples of those processes are: the organization's culture (When an organization's culture is well defined, employees are more likely to understand it and want to be part of it), the high level of commitment of the employees (with organizational commitment, employees express dedication to the company because they feel a sense of belonging and a sense of duty towards that company), client centeredness (customers are the main reason companies are able to exist. Therefore, when client centeredness takes center stage, the result is complete customer satisfaction, cultural diversity (embrace cultural diversity...
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...8607-506 WORK BASED ASSIGNMENT M5.08: Managing stress and conflict in the organisation |Centre Number 065790 |Centre Name UMD Professional | |Candidate Enrolment Number: |Candidate Name: | |TASK | |Evaluate the effectiveness of yourself and the organisation in managing workplace stress and conflict, and plan and implement | |improvements to the identification and approach to dealing with workplace stress and conflict in own area of responsibility. | | | |The 'nominal' word count for this assignment is 2,500 words; the suggested range is between 2,000 and 3,000 words. | | | |Check your assignment carefully prior to submission using the assessment criteria. | |Please use the headings shown below when writing your Assignment |Assessment Criteria | |Understand...
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...Introduction Working a consistent full time schedule can cause an individual a high level of stress due to their daily interaction at work (Boren, 2014). Stress is the reaction to a situation that can cause harm to one’s physical well-being, mental health, performance, and the process of making decisions (Hildebrandt, Yehuda, & Olff, 2012). In Britain, an estimation of over 13 millions work days are lost due to stress, depression and anxiety (Gyllensten & Palmer, 2005). Women and men experience the same levels of stress in workplace, however the stressors are different between the genders. Women stressors are due to lack of career progress, discrimination, and stereotyping (Gyllensten & Palmer, 2005). There is a lack of adequate research concerning the coping skills and social support women use to manage workplace stress. The study will focus on the stressors women face at work, and the affect of coping skills and social support has on them managing these stressors. A survey method of research will provide experiences from women aged between 25-50 years old, various races, and ethnical backgrounds in stressful workplace situations and how their management of stress is affected by coping skills and social support. Purpose Statement The purpose of this study is to examine the extent and affect of coping skills and social support has on management of stress for women in the workplace. Many women are placed in positions of support and have fewer opportunities for advancement...
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...Stress Management in the Workplace What I Learned about Stress Management and How to Manage the Stress in the Workplace Jonathon Redone MGT 301 – CL01 Theodore Finney April 24, 2010 It is three o’clock on a Friday, and it will be three-day weekend and you plan on going to a vacation resort with your family when your supervisor comes into your office and tells you that they have an emergency project and that you and your team need to come in over the weekend and work on this project that is due first thing when the weekend is over. As the supervisor, it is your job to take that news to your team and tell them that information. Obviously this will cause stress on you, your family, and team. It will cause stress on your family because this was a planned tripped and they were looking forward to going on the trip. It will cause stress on your team because this is a last minute notice and your team may have plans for the three-day weekend. It will cause stress for you because you have to tell the bad news to your family and your team. Hopefully that stress will not over take you and cause any hardship on your physical and mental being. People spend a lot of time at work, whether it is to do the normal day-to-day work, overtime, or just spending some extra time just to catch up. The time that is spent at work is not normally care-free or easy, but can cause some work anxiety which in turn can cause stress. Stress can be mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting...
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...Organizational Trends Nathaniel Benson, Felton Wells, Kevin Harring, William Kindred MGT/307 February 17, 2011 Charles Parnell Organizational Trends Team B entered discussion concerning organizational trends. Within the discussion the team came to a consensus about its thoughts toward organizational trends. In this paper we will describe the characteristics of high performance workplaces and organizations, discuss how high performance workplaces and organizations differ from traditional organizations in terms of operational effectiveness, workplace stress, and organizational dynamics. We will then compile strategies for managing workplace stress, and evaluate emerging trends in organizational behavior related to high performance workplaces and stress management techniques. Although each organization has its own way of doing things, trends in high performance workplaces and organizations differ from traditional organizations in terms of operational effectiveness, workplace stress, and organizational dynamics. High Performance Workplace and Organization Characteristics Organizations consist of many characteristics of high performance. A few of these characteristics consist of work clarity, and a capability assessment. Work clarity consists of making sure every employee understands why the organization exists and what is important. The process makes it clear to all employees in the organization, what business the larger or parent organizations are in and...
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...Guide Work-related stress What the law says ‘Stress at work is a major issue … together we can successfully manage and prevent it.’ Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ‘Whatever your industry, size of business or location, there are things you can do for the health and well-being of your employees.’ Health, Work and Well-being ‘Work can have a positive impact on our health and well-being. Healthy and well-motivated employees can have an equally positive impact on the productivity and effectiveness of a business.’ Acas ‘Managers need to know what stress is; and also understand what skills, abilities and behaviours are necessary to manage employees in a way that minimises work-related stress.’ CIPD Acknowledgements This guide was written and conceived by John Hamilton, Head of Safety, Health and Wellbeing at Leeds Metropolitan University and a visiting lecturer in health and safety law at Salford Law School, University of Salford. info@stressguidance.org www.stressguidance.org Contents Introduction 2 In this guidance 3 Identifying a problem 4 Preventing harm 6 Protecting individuals 7 Managing the workplace 8 The Management Standards for Work-related Stress 10 Managing stress checklist 11 Further reading 12 About this guide 13 Work-related stress: What the law says 1 Introduction This guidance summarises the legal duties that employers Statutory...
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...Essay: Stress Essay Prepared by: K.A Date: 16/12/2011 Table of Contents Introduction......................................................................................................................... 2 Stress & Personnel ............................................................................................................ 2 Stress & Organizational Behaviour ................................................................................ 2 Sources of Organizational Stress ........................................................................................ 3 Causes of Stress ................................................................................................................. 3 Types of Stress............................................................................................................... 4 Effects of Stress on Personnel ............................................................................................. 5 Physical Effects ................................................................................................................. 5 Behavioural Effects ........................................................................................................ 5 Effects of Stress on Organizational Behaviour .................................................................. 5 Stress Management ............................................................................................................. 6 Managing Stress:...
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...Organizational Behavior Trends Paper Mary J. Fambro MGT/307 December 13, 2010 Adeline Boomgaard Organizational Trends Today’s business world is high-tech, high-stress and high-speed. Although some traditional methods of organizational management are necessary, today’s successful organizations must focus on high-performance, operational effectiveness, organizational dynamics, diversity, and communication. This summary will examine the characteristics of high-performance organizations. It will discuss how they differ from traditional organizations in terms of operational effectiveness, workplace stress, and organizational. The summary will also discuss strategies for managing stress in the workplace and evaluate some to the emerging trends in organizational behavior as they relate to high-performance workplaces and stress management techniques. Characteristics of High-Performance Organizations High-Performance Organizations (HPO) is an organization that concentrates on bringing out the best in individual employees. In order for the organization to emerge as a HPO the organization must implement the following characteristics: * Individuals are assets. With a High-Performance Organization employees are assets to the organization. * Mobilized teams. The heart of a HPO is cohesion and teamwork. Flat hierarchies were team members can work together is a strong characteristic of the HPO. * Integrate the newest technologies. Technology can greatly...
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...Introduction Colligan and Higgins (2006) define workplace stress as the “change in one’s physical or mental state in response to workplaces that have an appraised challenge or threat to that employee.” The authors divide stress into two categories: eustress and distress. In eustress, the positive stress, the associated stressor has been cognitively appraised as positive; distress is the negative kind of stress, such as that experienced by employees who feel frustrated by a pressure to perform. All employees respond cognitively, behaviourally, emotionally, and physically to both eustress and distress. Moreover, the authors identify three levels of stress—acute, episodic, and chronic—each level of which has associated emotional and physiological symptoms. The authors point out that several factors contribute to workplace stress, such as a toxic work environment, an unmanageable workload, and challenging working hours, while adding that training can help alleviate workplace stress. Shuttleworth (2004) argues that training in workplace management can help employees become more resilient in the face of stress and better able to tackle the root causes of stress-related problems. Key Assumptions Colligan and Higgins (2006) make the following key points about workplace stress: * Workplace stress can lower productivity, increase absenteeism, and create pervasive patterns of dysfunction in the workplace. Workplace stress will also lead to changes in employees’ work habits...
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...1. Discussion Stress can be define as physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension, and a situation, occurrence, or factor causing this. The word “stress” actually comes from a Latin word meaning, “distress.” Stress affects everybody in the society. Today, more people suffer from stress than ever before. The pace of life is stressful in itself. People expect to manage the major life changes and crises without the network of support that previous generations relied upon. For some, stress may not be related to specific events, but may have developed in early childhood as an anxiety response to difficult situations. This response may have been carried into adult life as the characteristic way of dealing with difficulties. One in every four people seeks treatment for stress at some time in their lives. While some workplace stress is normal, excessive stress can interfere with employees’ productivity and impact employees’ physical and emotional health. Signs of stress can be seen in people's behaviour, especially in changes in behaviour. Signs and symptoms of excessive job and workplace stress are feeling anxious, irritable, or depressed, loss of interest in work, problems sleeping, fatigue, trouble concentrating, muscle tension or headaches, stomach problems, and social withdrawal. Situations that are likely to cause stress are unpredictable or uncontrollable. Stress may be caused by time limited events, such as the pressures of examinations or work deadlines, or by ongoing...
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...FGH Industrial Sales THE EFFECTS OF STRESS ON BUSINESS EMPLOYEES AND PROGRAMS OFFERED BY EMPLOYERS TO MANAGE EMPLOYEE STRESS (Business Report) 2015-2016 Suraydah R. Bod-oy Accounting Manager Table of Contents Introduction 3 Statement of the Problem 3 Significance of the Study 3 Scope of the Study 3 Review of Related Literature 4 Methods of the Study 5 Limitations of the Study 5 Introduction 6 Findings 6 Conclusions 10 Recommendations 11 Bibliography 12 Questionnaire 13 Section I Introduction to the Study Introduction Today, many organizations and employees are experiencing the effects of stress on work performance. The effects of stress can be either positive or negative. What is perceived as positive stress by one person may be perceived as negative stress by another, since everyone perceives situations differently. According to Barden (2001), negative stress is becoming a major illness in the work environment, and it can debilitate employees and be costly to employers. Managers need to identify those suffering from negative stress and implement programs as a defense against stress. These programs may reduce the impact stress has on employees' work performance. Statement of the Problem The purpose of this study was to determine the negative effects of stress on employees and the methods employers use to manage employees' stress. Significance of the Study There are three primary groups that may benefit from this study. The first group, consisting...
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...Managing Personal Development Stress, Time, and Career Development April Smith Southern Nevada College Author Note April Smith, Student, Southern Nevada College April Smith is currently submitting this project during her last semester before graduation. The research founded is vastly supported by the class curriculum. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to April Smith, Southern Nevada College, Las Vegas, NV 12345 Contact: aprilsmith@email.com MANAGING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Abstract This paper explores three different yet related avenues regarding one’s management on personal development. They will cover stress in the workplace, as well as time management and career development. This will discuss the different types of stresses and individual personalities. Also, how to better utilize time and how to understand the aspects needed for personal career development and growth. MANAGING PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT Managing Personal Development Stress, time, and career management What defines stress in our common society? Do we know is all stress is unhealthy or bad for you? Furthermore, how to we better manage our time and understand better career development strategies? These topics will be discussed in the following paragraphs to help understand the management of personal development. Stress tends to be defined as pressure, strain, or force on a system. In regards to job stress, it seems that a “feeling of powerlessness...
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...value” (p. 151). When an employee feels unappreciated their performance will affect performance, and the organization is affected as well because the job is not being completed. This is why it is so important for an organization to have a good leader, which is able to keep all employees motivated. Managing Stress In The Workplace Some signs that someone is suffering from too much workplace stress is they feel anxious, irritable or depressed, they lose interest in their work, muscle tension and headaches, trouble sleeping, social isolation, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and an increased use of drugs and alcohol to cope (Stress At Work, n,d,). While some workplace stress is normal, too much stress can hamper productivity and effect physical and emotional health (Stress At Work, n.d.). Discovering ways to handle workplace stress does not involve vast changes or going out and finding another place to work, it is about concentrating on one’s own behavior, which is one thing that is always within your control (Stress At Work, n.d.). Some ways that employees can manage stress at work is they can take responsibility for improving their own physical and emotional well-being (Stress At Work, n.d.). They can also avoid difficulties by...
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...“time wasted can never be regained”. Time is a perishable commodity but if managed properly one can maximize output and minimize effort. This is the main objective of time management. Time management may be defined as a skill that involves the planning and control of time and resources. Part of being successful at work or at school is learning how to master time. Assignments are given with deadlines and it is expected that the worker or student gets the job done effectively and on time. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics records that the average American spends more than half the day between work and spending time at home with children, however half of the day is wasted. The Bureau also outlines how lateness, stress and multitasking can have a negative effect on workplace productivity. If time is managed properly, one can achieve greater success. As such this report seeks to demonstrate that time management is key in maximizing productivity and output at school and the world of work. High among the list of those things that steal time from completing tasks is procrastination. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as the act or habit of delaying or putting off a task. A lot of time is spent thinking about what is to be done but this is not followed by any meaningful action. Valuable time is spent worrying and pondering about what is to be done and this in itself takes energy which could have been redirected into carrying out these said same tasks. The lines “I’ll do it later...
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