Consequences of Stress
Stress can have the following consequences:
1) Physiological:
The physical conditions resulting from stress can be medical problems such as: alcoholism, asthma, cancer, diabetes, eating disorders, hair loss, headaches, heart disease, hypertension, sexual dysfunction, and stroke.
2) Psychological:
The conditions resulting from stress can be: absenteeism, aggression, dissatisfaction, anxiety, depression, frustration, conflicts, irritability, drug addiction, suicide, emotional instability.
3) Organizational:
The condition resulting from stress can be: low motivation, low job performance, low productivity, high turnover and high absenteeism, low quality of interpersonal relationships.
Managing Stress
The methods for stress management can be:
1) Individual Stress Management:
The method can be:
- Physical exercise: Walking, jogging, playing, swimming, etc.
- Relaxation: Yoga, meditation, listening music, watching beautiful views, TV etc.
- Behavioral self-control: Control the situation instead of letting the situation control you.
- Balance work-life relationships.
- Good eating habits.
- Avoid people who irritate.
- Live in present.
- Optimism: See life in positive terms.
2) Organizational Stress Management:
The methods are:
- Creating a supportive organizational climate
- Job redesign
- Flexible work schedule
- Proper placement: Fit jobs with skills of people
- Conflict management
- Improved communication
- Employee involvement in management
- Training
- Planning for career paths for employees
3) Environmental Stress Management:
Adapt to environmental changes.
- Stress is not automatically bad. Low levels of positive stress enhance performance and effectiveness. Managers must manage stress effectively. They should not try to avoid it or be afraid of it.