Stress is an increasingly important issue for HR professionals, managers and regular employees. Stress at work increases and has very negative consequences. Anxiety caused by one's work seems to be increasing around the world and is detrimental to the general well-being of people who experience it.
ContentsReduce pressure in the workplaceAdapt to constant changeMinimize threats to job securityEliminate conflicts between colleaguesImprove organizational cultureIncrease autonomyProvide adequate resourcesWorkplace stress also causes a drop in productivity and overall company morale in many organizations. The root cause of this problem depends on the company itself, the work environment promoted and many other external factors. Some common causes seem to contribute to increased stress and an inability to cope with work.
When the stress gets too overwhelming, talk to a psychotherapist for professional help. You can also try to minimize your stressful experiences at work. Here's how you can identify the factors that cause stress at work:
Today's job market, and society in general, is competitive and winners matter. Whether we like it or not, he tends to persist in the feeling that we could always do more, work harder, and take on additional tasks proactively. In addition to the long hours required in many positions, this can simply become too much for one person to handle.
It may seem like the pressure is endless and the future holds no relief. Sometimes the pressure is generated internally, or it can take the form of a micromanagement pattern. Either way, it makes it hard to focus on the task at hand and probably hurts overall productivity.
While monotony and redundancy can also cause problems (more on that below), a constantly fluctuating work environment can pose big problems for many workers. If an organization experiences a very high turnover rate, everyone is likely to remain in a state of heightened uncertainty. Anxiety builds when employees wait to see who they will work with and how they will get along.
For the most part, human beings crave stability and routine. When the workplace is not conducive to establishing a regular schedule or expectations, tensions are inevitably high.
Speaking of high turnover, many workers report experiencing high stress due to fear of losing their job. Naturally, this worry is likely to increase if they see it happening to the people around them. The concern will also increase if there is a constant stream of new policies or procedures that they are unsure about adapting.
It also makes it difficult for many people to manage other aspects of their lives. They are unsure of their future income. In addition, they are reluctant to make plans or commitments that they may not be able to fulfill financially.
Interpersonal conflict makes it difficult for people to perform well at work. Sometimes it's because they've been assigned a project where they have to work closely with someone they're having trouble getting along with. At other times, they feel unfairly targeted by a superior. In any case, going to work every day can become a major source of anxiety.
These problems are also likely to be amplified if other factors trigger significant stress at work. When people are already nervous, they are prone to be sensitive to comments they perceive to be directed at them or are more likely to lose their temper during team discussions.
Unfortunately, some corporate cultures allow negativity to flourish. This is usually the result of poor management practices that lead to a lack of support for all employees and contribute to role conflict. This issue can also be particularly tricky to deal with. If the manager is causing the problems, they are unlikely to see it as such and resist criticism.
When an organization is poorly managed, the lack of autonomy is also likely to contribute to work stress and negatively impact productivity. When a person has little or no control over their role at work, it is only a matter of time before motivation wanes and they become depressed or anxious.
Regardless of the task performed, it is important to people that what they do makes a difference. They should have some degree of control over how it is completed.
In some cases, people will also find themselves in a position where they do not have the tools or the resources to do their job properly. This can be incredibly stressful and frustrating as they feel helpless and unmotivated, unable to do anything to improve their situation.
