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Michael A. Hitt

C. Chet Miller

Adrienne Colella

Chapter 7 Stress and Stress and WellbeingWellbeing

Slides by Ralph R. Braithwaite

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Who Wants to Get Rid of All Who Wants to Get Rid of All the Stress in Your Life?the Stress in Your Life?

Only One Group of People Have No

Stress

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Striking for Stress at VerizonStriking for Stress at VerizonIssues:

• Constant monitoring

• Promised training – didn’t happen

• Pressure to sell to every customer

• Call center perceived as a “gold-plated” sweatshop

Exploring Behavior in Action

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Striking for Stress at VerizonStriking for Stress at VerizonSettlement changes:• Advanced notification of monitoring

• Monitoring only during regular hours

• Face-to-face feedback

• Permission to be away for 30 minutes

• Formation of a committee

• Funding for work-family support programs

• Team vs. individual performance measures

• Split shifts and job sharing

• Limits on overtime

Exploring Behavior in Action

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Strategic Importance of Strategic Importance of Workplace StressWorkplace Stress

26-40% of Americans find their work to be very or extremely stressful.

25% of people believe their jobs are the most stressful

part of their lives

35% of respondents – somewhat or

completely dissatisfied with job-related stress

THE GALLUPPOLL

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Knowledge ObjectivesKnowledge Objectives1. Define stress and distinguish among different types of

stress.2. Understand how the human body reacts to stress and

be able to identify the signs of suffering from too much stress.

3. Describe two important models of workplace stress and discuss the most common work-related stressors.

4. Recognize how people experience stress.5. Explain the individual and organizational

consequences of stress.6. Discuss methods that associates, managers, and

organizations can use to manage stress and promote well-being.

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Workplace Stress DefinedWorkplace Stress Defined

StressStress Job StressJob Stress

Acute

Chronic

7-8Adapted from Exhibit 7-1: Some Stress-Related Conditions

Acute

Chronic

Alertness andExcitement

Increase in Energy

Uneasinessand Worry

Feelings ofSadness

Loss ofAppetite

Immune SystemSuppression

IncreasedMetabolism

Diabetes

High BloodPressure

Loss ofSex Drive

LoweredResistance

Anxiety andPanic Attacks

Depression

EatingDisturbances

Irritability

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Stress ResponseStress Response

An unconscious mobilization of energy resources that occurs when the body encounters a stressor.

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Key DefinitionsKey DefinitionsStressor – environmental conditions that cause individuals to experience stress

Eustress – positive stress that results from meeting challenges and difficulties with the expectation of achievement

Dystress – negative stress; often referred to simply as stress. Often results in overload.

Job strain – function of workplace demands and the control an individual has in meeting those demands.

Hans Selye

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Signs of StressSigns of Stress

Edward Creagan, MD

1. You feel irritable.

2. You have sleeping difficulties.

3. You do not get any joy out of life.

4. Your appetite is disturbed.

5. You have relationship problems and have a difficult time getting along with people.

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Two Models of Workplace StressTwo Models of Workplace Stress

Demand-ControlModel

Effort-RewardImbalance

Model

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Demand-Control ModelDemand-Control Model

Passive

Active(EUSTRESS)

High Strain(DYSTRESS)

Low Strain

Job Demands

Job

Co

ntr

ol High

Low

HighLow

Adapted from Exhibit 7-2: The Demand-Control Model of Workplace Stress

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Effort-Reward Imbalance ModelEffort-Reward Imbalance Model

Adapted from Exhibit 7-3: The Effort-Reward Imbalance Model of Workplace Stress

OvercommitmentOvercommitmentOvercommitmentOvercommitment

High EffortHigh EffortHigh EffortHigh Effort Low RewardLow RewardLow RewardLow Reward

DemandsDemandsObligationsObligationsDemandsDemands

ObligationsObligationsPayPay

EsteemEsteemPayPay

EsteemEsteem

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Role ConflictRole Conflict

A situation in which different roles lead to conflicting expectations

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ManagerialAdvice

Restoring and Maintaining Restoring and Maintaining Work-Life BalanceWork-Life Balance

• Focus on what is truly important.

• Take advantage of work-related options.

• Protect non-work time.

• Manage your personal time.

• Set aside specific time eachweek for recreation.

Thoughts?

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Work-Related Work-Related StressorsStressors

Role Ambiguity

WorkOverload

Occupation

ResourceInadequacy

WorkingConditions

Management Style

Monitoring

JobSecurity

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Type A vs.Type A vs.Type BType B

PersonalityPersonality

Self-EsteemSelf-Esteem

HardinessHardiness

GenderGender

Individual Individual Influences on Influences on Experiencing Experiencing

StressStress

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Extreme JobsExtreme Jobs• What are your thoughts on working 60 or

more hours a week?

• Do you think you could like a job that much to put in the extra time?

• Do you think everyone who works these kinds of hours is a “workaholic”?

• How does work-life balance fit here?

• Why do you think the gender difference still persists?

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Consequences of StressConsequences of Stress

IndividualIndividual OrganizationalOrganizational

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Individual Consequences of StressIndividual Consequences of Stress

StressStress

Psychological

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Low self-esteem

• Sleeplessness

• Frustration

• Family problems

• Burnout

Behavioral

• Excessive smoking

• Substance abuse

• Accident proneness

• Appetite disorders

• Violence

Physiological

• High blood pressure

• Muscle tension

• Headaches

• Ulcers, skin diseases

• Impaired immune systems

• Musculoskeletal disorders

• Heart disease

• Cancer

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Organizational Consequences Organizational Consequences of Stressof Stress

Adapted from Exhibit 7-4: Managerial Costs of Job Stress

• Total U.S. corporate profits in 2006 – $897.6 billion• Entire U.S. gross domestic product (the market value of

the nation’s goods and services) was approximately $13,246 billion in 2006

Some perspective:

Estimated cost to American industry of job stress $200 billion per year• Absenteeism• Diminished productivity• Compensation claims

• Health insurance• Direct medical

expenses

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Individual Stress ManagementIndividual Stress Management• Find jobs that provide a personally acceptable balance

between demands and control and between effort required and rewards.

• Redesign a dysfunctional job.

• Follow the tactics presented in the Managerial Advice feature.

• Develop healthy ways of coping.

ExerciseExercise Proper DietProper Diet

SupportSupportNetworkNetwork

RelaxationRelaxationTechniquesTechniques

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Individual Stress ManagementIndividual Stress Management• Exercise regularly

• Practice healthy habits

• Be realistic

• Use systematic relaxation

• Meditate

• Develop and use planning skills

• Simplify your life – Delegate

• Take one thing at a time

• Avoid unnecessary competition

• Recognize and accept personal limits

• Develop social support networks

• Focus on enjoying what you do

• Go easy with criticism

• Take time off

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Organizational Stress Organizational Stress ManagementManagement

• Increase individuals’ autonomy and control

• Ensure that individuals are compensated properly

• Maintain job demands/requirements at healthy levels

• Ensure that associates have adequate skills to keep up-to-date with technical changes in the workplace

• Increase associate involvement in important decision making

• Improve physical working conditions

• Provide for job security and career development

• Provide healthy work schedules

• Improve communication to help avoid uncertainty and ambiguity

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Toxin HandlersToxin Handlers

Peter Frost

The following behaviors are necessary for handling the pain, strain, and stress of others:

• Read your own and others’ emotional cues and understand their impact

• Keep people connected

• Empathize with those who are in pain

• Act to alleviate the suffering of others

• Mobilize people to deal with their pain and get their lives back on track

• Create an environment where compassionate behavior toward others is encouraged and rewarded

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Wellness ProgramsWellness ProgramsEstimate suggests J&J’s program has saved the company $22.4 million per year. The initiative has several goals:

• 91% of employees will be tobacco free

• 90% of employees will have blood pressure of 140/90 or better

• 85% of employees will have a total cholesterol below 240

• 75% of employees will be physically active, define as 30 minutes of activity three or more times each week

• 60% of employees will be trained in resilience/stress management

7-28ExperiencingStrategic OB

Incentives for Participating in Incentives for Participating in Wellness ProgramsWellness Programs

What are your thoughts about organizations that provide an incentive to employees who participate in wellness programs?

What about organizations that “penalize” employees who don’t complete programs or have medical evaluations?

Should higher risk individuals be expected (or required) to pay higher rates for coverage?

What exists in your organizations that are similar to these types of programs?

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The Strategic LensThe Strategic Lens

1. How can good stress be distinguished from bad stress? How much stress is too much stress?

2. How can managing stress in any organization contribute to improved strategy implementation and organizational performance?

3. How much stress do you currently experience? How can reducing your stress increase your performance in school and enhance your life in general?

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QuestionsQuestions