Organizational Behavior

Chapter 7—Managing Individual Stress

 Slide 7.1
Learning Objectives for Managing
Individual Stress
 Explain the concept of stress and stressors and a

person’s response to stress

 Discuss the relationship between personality and stress

 State the primary sources of stress in organizations

 Describe the effects of stress on health and job

performance
 Identify individual and organizational practices for

managing stress

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 2
 Slide 7.2
The Relationship Between Stressors
and Experienced Stress
Influenced by
the Person’s:

Perceptions

Stressors Past Stress

from the Experiences Experienced
Environment by the Person

Social
Support

Individual
Differences

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 3
 Slide 7.3
Behavioral Tendencies of the
Type A Personality

 Time urgency

 Competitiveness and hostility

 Polyphasic behavior

 Lack of planning

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 4
 Slide 7.4
Characteristics of the
Hardy Personality

 Feeling a sense of commitment

 Responding to each difficulty as a

challenge and an opportunity

 Having a sense of control over one’s life

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 5
 Slide 7.5
Sources of Work Stressors and
Experienced Stress
Work Stressors Influenced by the Employee’s:

Workload Perceptions

Stress Experienced
Job Conditions Past Experiences by the Employee

Role Conflict and

Social Support
Ambiguity

Career Development Individual Differences

Interpersonal Relations

Aggressive Behavior

Conflict Between Work

and Other Roles

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 6
 Slide 7.6
Stressors and Work–Family Conflict
Triggers Possible
Stressors Creates Leads to Outcomes

Work and
Work Versus Family Stress Work–Family
Dissatisfaction
Family on Employee Conflicts

Frustration

Depression

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 7
 Slide 7.7
Stressful Events for College Students
High Stress Events Moderate Stress Events Low Stress Events

* Death of parent * Academic probation * Change in

eating habits
* Death of spouse * Change of major
* Change in
* Divorce * Death of close friend sleeping habits

* Failing important course * Change in social

* Flunking out activities
* Unwed pregnancy * Finding a new love interest
* Conflict with
* Loss of financial aid instructor
* Lower grades
* Major injury or illness than expected
* Parents’ divorce

* Serious arguments with

romantic partner

* Outstanding achievement

Source: Adapted from Baron, R. A., and Byrne, D. Social Psychology: Understanding
Human Interaction, 6th ed. Boston, Allyn & Bacon, 1991, 573.
Chapter 7: Managing Individual
Stress 8
 Slide 7.8
Effects of Stress

 Physiological effects
 Increased blood pressure, increased heart rate,
sweating, hot and cold spells, etc.

 Emotional effects
 Anger, anxiety, depression, lowered self-esteem, etc.

 Behavioral effects
 Poor performance, absenteeism, high accident rates,
high turnover rates, etc.

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 9
 Slide 7.9
Health Impacts of Stress

 Health problems

 Coronary heart disease, back pain, headaches, etc.

 Impact on the organization

 Increased health insurance costs and lost work days

 Over 75% of industrial accidents are rooted in stress

 Stress-related workers’ compensation claims

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 10
 Slide 7.10
Typical Relationship Between
Performance and Stress
High Too Little Stress Optimum Stress Excessive Stress
(excellent)
Performance
Level of

Low
(poor) Low Amount of Stress High

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 11
 Slide 7.11
Components and Characteristics
of Burnout
 Components:
 State of emotional exhaustion
 Depersonalization of individuals
 Feelings of low personal accomplishment

 Characteristics:
 Experiences high stress from work-related stressors
 Idealistic and self-motivating achievers
 Often seek unattainable goals

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 12
 Slide 7.12
Individual Stress
Management Initiatives
 Designed to eliminate or control sources of stress

and improve the person’s ability to cope

 A person can manage stress by:
 Planning ahead and practicing good time management
 Having good personal health management practices
 Maintaining a positive perspective
 Balancing work life and personal life
 Learning a relaxation technique

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 13
 Slide 7.13
Organizational Stress
Management Initiatives
 Designed to:
 Identify and modify or eliminate work stressors
 Help employees modify perception of work stress
 Help employees cope with the consequences of stress
 Organizations can manage stress by:
 Reducing work stressors
 Modifying behaviors
 Creating wellness programs

Chapter 7: Managing Individual

Stress 14
 Slide 7.14
Organizational Stress Management
Initiatives for Reducing Stressors

 Improvements in the physical work environment

 Job design

 Changes in workloads and deadlines

 Changes in work schedules, more flexible hours,

and sabbaticals
 Increased employee participation

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Stress 15
 Slide 7.15
Organizational Stress Management
Initiatives for Modifying Behaviors

 Team building

 Career counseling and other employee

assistance programs
 Time management workshops

 Job burnout workshops

 Training in relaxation techniques

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Stress 16