INTRODUCTION:

Stress is a term basically used in physical sciences, which means pressure of one object on another. From physical sciences, the term stress came to medical sciences and finally to social science. As per medical explanation, the term stress is the body’s general responses to environmental situations. In today’s life everyone is striving to manage stress. Stress Management has become a hot topic for each and every human being in any profession¹.

Origins of Stress:

Stress can often originate from sources we hardly ever associate with it. Stress can originate from emotional and psychological causes. Even joyous events, such as a wedding, a job promotion, buying a new home, or the birth of a child, can cause much stress. Stress can destroy the mental stability of any individual. It is basically a condition that makes us uncomfortable. Stress could be due to various reasons such as financial crunch, job loss, emotional and any other personal reasons².

Stress management in the workplace is a reality that most of us have to face for one reason or another and coping with it is key to long-term career success. Having some stress can be helpful because it can provide motivation that allows working with a bit of a sense of urgency and purpose. When stress in the workplace reaches a high level and carries over to the personal life in a negative way though, this is a sign that one need to do something to properly manage it so that it doesn’t spiral out of control further.

Sources of Stress:

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Sure, you may know that you’re constantly worried about work deadlines. But maybe it’s your procrastination, rather than the actual job demands, that leads to deadline stress. Stressors originate at individual, group, organizational and extra-organizational levels.

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 create stress.

Organizational structure means 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 the managerial style of the organization’s senior executives. Some chief executive officers create a culture characterized by tension, fear, and anxiety. They establish unrealistic pressure to perform in the short run, impose excessively tight controls, and routinely fire employees who fail to measure up.

A Model of Occupational Stress³

Managing stress:

There are very many proven skills that we can use to manage stress. These help us to remain calm and effective in high pressure situations, and help us avoid the problems of long term stress. Stress can be managed in a number of ways. Some of the ways to manage stress includes – playing a sport, exercise, yoga or indulging into music. However, this is by no means an exhaustive list of activities. There is no right or wrong ways to reduce stress. The core purpose is performing a set of activities that can keep people busy and at the same time help in stress reduction. In order to get the best result people should follow a discipline in life. The best way to avoid stress at work and in personal life is to be positive in attitude. Things take time and the winner never quits. Keep trying and put your full efforts and leave the result to the destiny.

Modern life is full of stress. Stress on individuals ranges from personal day-to-day life to their organizational activities. Urbanization, industrialization, and increase in scale of operations in the society are causing increasing stresses. In this changing environment, participation, interaction, transaction, planning, and regulation have become key issues, each with its own frustrations attached. People feel stress as they can no longer have complete control over what happens in life. There is no escape from stress in modern life. Stress is good for us. Stress mobilizes our potential. The lowest ebb is the return of the tide. When stress strikes, we respond in life, growing physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually⁴.

Recommendations:

Stress is defined as an adaptive response to an external situation that results in physical, psychological, and/or behvioural deviations for organizational participants (Luthans). Hanse selye was one of the founding fathers of stress research. His viewed that “Stress is not necessarily something bad – it all depends on how you take it”. The stress of exhilarating, creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation, or infection is detrimental. There are suggestions that follow which when implemented effectively will help in reducing the stress level among the employees.

When the organization cares for its employees, the first step would be providing the employees with comfortable lighting condition. Comfortable chairs which will help in decreasing the back pain of the employees. The Organization has to ensure that the hygiene at the work place is good. Good health among the employees will result in higher productivity. The organization can try to conduct exercise classes to the employees which will help in relieving the stress. Enough ventilation also reduces stress. The management should conduct frequent and periodical health check up to the employees. Enough health insurance schemes for the benefit of the employees and also provides mental security to the employees and will make them feel that they are important assets of the organization. Conducting personality development classes for the employees motivates them more. Further polite and friendly orders from the superiors are better than the autocratic leadership. Democratic leadership always bears good fruit. Conducting art of living, meditation, and yoga classes relieves the stress prevailing among the employees. Training the employees to update them on the latest technology increases their efficiency in performing their work. The organization must ensure that the employees are provided with a friendly and pleasant atmosphere.

REFERENCES:

1. Anna West (2006): Management Stress: Coping Strategy for employers, Prentice-Hall, pp 78-79.

2. Cummins, R. (1990): Job Stress and the buffering effect of supervisory support, Group, and organizational studies, Macmillan, New York, pp 92-104.

3. Aswathappa, K. (2005): Organizational Behaviour, Himalaya Publishing House, 6^th Edition, pp293-297.

4. Hans Selye, (1950): The stress concept: Past, Present and Future, Stress in life and at Work, cited in Rita Agarawal, p 54.

Received on 31.05.2011 Accepted on 26.07.2011

Asian J. Management 2(4): Oct.-Dec., 2011 page 202-203