How to Manage Your Boss (cont'd)
Q: What's the current trend of job stress? Is there more or less?
A: The downsizing and reorganization of corporate America in the last 10 to 15 years has set off unmistakable pressures and stresses. There is a very real and persistent fear of loss of employment and job insecurity in the majority of employees. The impact of job loss on individuals and families has been enormous. According to The New York Times, more than 43 million jobs have been lost in the United States since 1979.
Q: How can empowering employees help lessen stress agents in the workplace?
A: When employees feel less like "victims of circumstances out of their control," they feel more empowered. Employees who are given candid, timely and consistent communications from management about the status of their careers, as well as more responsibility to directly manage their careers and their work relationships, tend to be less anxious and more highly motivated. Although few employees believe that job security is a guarantee anymore, employees who are empowered with more information and responsibility over their future tend to cope more effectively — because they feel less powerless.
Q: Sometimes employees are hesitant to speak to their boss about criticism. Is there a way to overcome that fear of retribution?
A: The chances that your fear of retribution will turn into reality will be significantly reduced to the degree that you can discuss criticism with your boss in a reasonable non-emotional, non-defensive manner. You can avoid setting up your boss to be angry at you and therefore risk retribution by careful planning and diplomatic communication.
Q: What's the best way to deal with stress in the workplace?
A: Stress is always in the eye of the beholder. What may cause one employee stress in the workplace may not even cause a ripple of concern to another. The key to dealing with stress is knowing the specific stresses on the work environment that you are particularly sensitive to and the warning signs in your own body and mind that signal stress overload. Once you have identified your vulnerability, you can create on-going stress-management strategies to cope with the issues.
If you feel unable to manage this process yourself, or feel overwhelmed, it may be a good idea to consult an objective professional, such as a psychologist. Your collaboration with a professional may go a long way in making you feel more empowered to manage the stresses.
Copyright © 1997 by the American Psychological Association. All rights reserved.
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