Coping with

workplace stress
 Housekeeping

› mobile phones
› break times
› toilets
› emergencies

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 Workshop overview

At this workshop the following will be addressed:

› the nature and effects of stress

› the causes of excess workplace stress
› the symptoms of excess stress
› reasons why stress issues must be addressed
› methods of dealing with stress related problems

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 Workshop expectations

What do you know about the topic?

What do you need to know?

What outcomes do you expect from this workshop?

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 Activity

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 Topic 1

Stress: any force or event that has an effect on the body or

mind.

Some stress is good and a necessary part of life.

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 Necessary stress

Athletic achievement Tuning a violin

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 Good stress/ bad stress

‘[Excess] Stress is when you wake up screaming and you

realise that you haven’t fallen asleep yet.’

(Anon)

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 Impact of inappropriate stress levels

1. High levels of absenteeism.

2. Increased attrition.
3. Poor work performance.
4. Low morale.
5. Low worker commitment.
6. Increased frequency of accidents.
7. Industrial relations difficulties.
8. Poor relationships with suppliers and customers.
9. Difficulty retaining good employees, at all levels.

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 Reactions

Excess stress › Poor performance

› Dysfunctional behaviour
› Health problems

Moderate stress
› High performance
› Job satisfaction
› Involvement
Too little stress › Optimum performance

› Poor performance
› Dysfunctional behaviour
› Health problems
Too little or too much
stress can be harmful.

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 Activity

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 Topic 2

Excess stress

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 Stress factors

‘One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous

breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly
important.’

(Bertrand Russell)

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 Constructive v destructive stress

Human performance
Performance and well being

Peak
performance

Under Over
stimulation stimulation
Stimulation

Too little Optimum Too much

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 Change and workplace stress

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 Reactions

Stress itself is not harmful – it is our reaction to stress/

stressors that causes illness or disease.

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 Activity

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 Topic 3

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 The cost of stress
Stress related absenteeism directly costs Australian employers
$10.11 billion a year. It costs the Australian economy approx.
$14.81 billion a year.

3.2 days per worker are lost each year as a result of workplace
stress.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 adult workers suffer from moderate to

extreme stress overload and are at risk of stress-related health
problems.

(www.medibank.com.au)

Hence the need to understand and manage stress responses.

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 Responding to requests

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 Delegate

‘Delegating means letting others become the experts …’

(Timothy Firnstahl)

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 Activity

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 Topic 4

‘Stress: the confusion created when one’s mind overrides

the body’s basic desire to choke the living daylights out of
some jerk who desperately deserves it.’

(Anon)

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 Managing emotions

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 Cognitive restructuring

‘Don't let your mind bully your body into believing it must
carry the burden of its worries.’

(Astrid Alauda)

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 Handling the behaviour of others

Can you cope with the behaviour of others ?

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 Assertiveness

Negotiate for the purpose of fulfilling your needs - without

overriding the needs of others.

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 Activity

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 Topic 5

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 Lower your stress levels at work

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 Relaxation

Important for mental and physical health.

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 Diet

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 Exercise

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 Sleep

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 Social support and networks

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 Relaxation techniques

‘Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the

rest we take between two deep breaths.’

(Etty Hillesum)

‘There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't

cure, but I don't know many of them.’

(Sylvia Plath)

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 Activity

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 Summary

Before leaving today please share:

› 1 important thing you learned
› 1 new practice you will undertake at work
› 1 activity you enjoyed

Thankyou for your attendance and participation.

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 Two thoughts

‘Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an

emergency.’

(Natalie Goldberg)

‘Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of

mental illness.’

(Richard Carlson)

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