Stress at work is common. 94% of workers report feeling stress at work.

63% of U.S. workers report they’re ready to quit their job to avoid work-related stress. Around 33% of people report feeling extreme stress. (Source: American Institute of Stress)

Although some stress can actually be healthy, in many cases stress is unhealthy, especially when it is severe.

Gayle Lantz talks about how to get to the real cause of stress in your organization so you can increase productivity and team performance. The real cause of stress may not be what you think. 

Gayle talks about different kinds of stress that individuals experience and offers a diagnostic tool for leaders who want to identify the greatest sources of stress in themselves and/or their organizations.

Although individuals respond differently to stress, the leader plays an important role in helping reduce the unhealthy stress that people often feel. One key is helping other people change their perspective.

This episode covers:

• Seven different kinds of stress that individuals experience:

1. DEMAND STRESS: Poorly designed jobs, excessive demands or poor job fit
2. EFFORTS/REWARD BALANCE STRESS: High output and effort met with minimal reward
3. CONTROL STRESS: High responsibility paired with low authority, and lack of control
4. ORGANIZATION CHANGE STRESS: Restructuring, poorly communicated policies and leadership changes 
5. MANAGER/SUPERVISOR STRESS: Enormous pressure or challenges from your manager/supervisor
6. SOCIAL SUPPORT STRESS: Lack of support among peers and competitiveness 
7. JOB SECURITY STRESS: Fear of loss of job or threatened job status 

• • Four main signs of stress:

• Physical: Low energy, aches and pains, frequent illness

• Emotional: Irritability, feeling overwhelmed, moodiness

• • Cognitive: Inability to concentrate, memory problems, poor judgment 
  • Behavioral: Eating or sleeping issues, procrastination, nervous habits 

LINKS:

Stress Quotient Assessment: Contact WorkMatters to inquire about assessment tools

Previous Episodes:

Breaking Through the Invisible Barriers That Hold You Back (Episode #149)

Do More Faster with CEO Shegun Otulana (Episode #148)