Job-Related Stress: How to get over it?

In this article, Job Stress... Are You Being Controlled by it or Is It Controlling You, Bill Malone basically says that stress “is a problem when demands get so great that a person’s normal level of coping no longer is liable to handle the amount of stress” which is similar to that in the book that says stress is “a force or influence a person feels when s/he faces opportunities, constraints, or demands that s/he perceives to be both certain and important”; Malone says when that happens, some phenomena occur such as to hate or going to another meeting or wishing it to be postponed, the increase conflict between you and the co-workers, and losing the zest, creativity, and enthusiasm about your job. However, the book also clarifies some similar symptoms of stress (psychological symptoms) such as boredom, procrastination, and the increased tension that occure because of the job (p247).

Malone has suggested two different approaches to overcome job-related stress. The first one is that employee should claim that as he said “I’m tough as nails”; and that’s done by trying to do whatever is hard, work twice as much, not to let anyone take your task, not to take a break, and blame everything on someone else. This approach convinces one’s self that what you do is neither hard nor stressful. Anyhow, Malone doesn’t recommend that approach although it helps stressed employee to overcome stress. The second approach he suggested contains two parts. The first one is done by the individual to help him/her self overcome the situation. The second one is done the employer to reduce the amount of stress produced by a specific job.

The first part of the second approach implies that an employee can help him or herself to get over stress. There are four ways to achieve that. Firstly, an employee should be organized, s/he should get their priorities straight that will tell them where they’re going and help them reach their goals. Secondly, an employee should always remember the average working hours which is 9 hours a day and consider not exceeding that. Thirdly, one should always think that nothing is perfect. Fourthly, Malone calls this step “Drop the superman approach”, and that means that everyone gets into troubles even superman was affected by kryptonite. Finally, an individual must always hold a positive attitude; to be positive about what you do.

The second part of the second approach implies that managers are meant to reduce the level of the stress a job creates and help employees overcome their stress-related problems. Basically, to be able to do that, several steps must be done. Managers should show employee some importance, or how valuable they are in the organization. Also, manager should look at each employee equally, it doesn’t matter the position that an employee has; the same values should be given by mangers to employees. Furthermore, the employer ought to show each employee different need which gives them sort of importance in a specific part of the organization. Finally, managers must communicate with their employee, share problem and opinions, and give clear directions.

The book also suggested some similar ways that managers can do to reduce employees’ level of stress. Firstly, managers should make sure that employees are properly matched to their tasks. Also, managers should define goals for employees to lessen the role ambiguity even if that will make them redesign some jobs. Finally managers are supposed to show employee some involvement of employees in the organization that will give them motivation. However, the book also implies that even if managers are done their job reducing stress, employees will still be stressed; that’s the part employees should help themselves overcome stress because they are more aware of their personal issues (p248).