1. Chapter 6 Stress

2. What is Stress?
Stress is a general term applied to pressures people feel in life.
Stress is also the way we react physically and emotionally to demands where the outcome is uncertain and important.

3. Stress Is stress necessarily bad?
** Eustress — beneficial stress.
Stress is a fact of life and is unavoidable.
What are the symptoms showing stress?

4. Stress
From our definition, two conditions are necessary for potential stress to become actual stress:
uncertainty
importance

5. The Relationship Between Stress and Job Performance
High
Yerkes-Dodson Curve
Performance
Low
Stress
High

6. Positive Stress (Eustress)
Better focused
Energized
Motivated
Aware of options – more creative
Challenged rather than intimidated
Change agent

7. Negative Stress (Stressor)
Tense
Anxious
Angry or depressed
Withdrawing or lashing out
Frustrated
Resist change

8. What happens in your body
Stress hormones
(adrenaline, cortisol) are
released
Pulse, blood pressure
and breathing increase
Digestive system stops.
Blood moves from
internal organs to muscles

9. Effects of Stress Physiological Psychological Behavioral
Headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, hives
Psychological
Tension, anxiety, irritability, fear
Behavioral
Smoking, mannerisms, eating habits, sleep disorders

10. How Does One React to Stress?
Avoid – Pretend it doesn’t exist.
Resist – Fight stress
Environmental factors – time, support
Organizational factors – policies, rules
Individual factors – education, training
Confront/Adapt – Work to identify the real cause and eliminate it, change it, or cope with it.

11. Additional Implications
Perception – a person’s perception of a situation will influence the level of stress.
Locus of Control – internal versus external locus of control.
Job Experience – the greater the job experience, the more comfortable the employee becomes with the work situation.
Social Support – the stronger the relationships, the better one handles stress.
Type of Personality – A or B.

12. Fight – Flight Response
Fight response = Body prepares to defend itself
Flight response = Escape distress rather than battle it

13. ** Stress Management ** Techniques
Establish personal priorities
Physical exercise
Time management
Relaxation
Music
Pets

14. Summary
It is important for you to find out how to handle stress for yourself and also to help those you lead.
Stress is a general term applied to pressures people feel in life.

15. Summary
Two conditions are necessary for potential stress to become actual stress: uncertainty and level of importance.
Stress may be positive or negative.
Stress can effect an individual physically, psychologically, and emotionally.

16. Summary
Learn stress management techniques that work for you and those under your leadership.