Stress
Stress is any situation that makes you feel emotionally
uncomfortable and psychologically disturbed.
Most stress occur as a result of how we relate to our
fellow human beings.
Stress may come from:
Financial / marital issues
Ill-heath, joblessness etc.
Effects of stress
Hypertension
Stomach ulcer
Obesity
Alcoholism
Infertility
Marital discord
Zones of stress
Stress occurs most often at two places:
Your home
Your workplace
Causes of stress
We relate to our fellow human beings through
communication:
Verbal–what we say (words)
Non-verbal–how we behave.
Communication friction/ineffective communication is the cause of most stresses
You can avoid stress by learning how to communicate and behave better both at home and at the workplace.
Watch your words.
They can eat you up
Words are powerful
Use them wisely
What you say is important;
How you say it, is even more important.
In the courtroom, you are judged by what you say.
Your words can put you in trouble, and
Your words can also get you out of trouble.
At Home
Your spouse is the most significant source of stress in your house.
Endeavour to build a good communicative relationship
with your spouse.
Discuss important issues with him/her including your
vision for the family (where do you want the family to
be in the next 5-10 years?).
Managing stress at home
Resolve not to say anything in anger, especially in
response to your spouse.
It may cost you sleepless nights.
Support your spouse materially and emotionally, and
Never take them for granted.
Give your spouse the benefit of the doubt
If you are close enough to your spouse,
The children will naturally find their level.
Pull your spouse up
To maintain a meaningful communicative state with your
spouse, pull him or her along the social ladder as you climb
up.
It is not everybody who can pursue academics, so find out
what your spouse like doing and support him or her to be
among the best in that field or vocation.
It boosts confidence and makes communication between
the two of you easier.
Compromise when it is necessary to bring peace and
harmony in the house.
You need that peace of mind to concentrate on your
activities at the workplace; make it a priority.
At the Office
Your boss may be the most significant source of stress
at the workplace.
Learn to do your job well enough to be respected.
Engage your colleagues in meaningful communication:
1. Focus on the reason for the discussion.
2. Communicate emotions in person.
3. Listen more than you talk.
4. Simplify your messages.
Have a vision
If you know where you want to go with your career, you
will be less stressful at the workplace.
Have a vision for your career
Find out what you need to do to realise your dreams at
the workplace.
When you are focused on a vision of being at the top
management level in the next 5-10 years, you will not
be distracted by small issues like office chairs.
Define your friends
Your colleagues at the workplace are not your friends:
they are your business partners, at best
your competitors, at worst.
Focus on your job at the office
Don’t bring your personal issues into the workplace.
Avoid gossip (s)
Don’t get involved in any unholy discussion about any
individual at the workplace; either your boss or your
subordinates.
It may come back to bite you.
Be loyal
Don’t do anything to undermine the success of the
company.
Give your full support to the boss.
He may not know as much about the business as you
do.
That is the reason why he/she is your boss.
Respect the position the person occupies and it would
be easier to respect the occupant of that position
Work to make your boss more popular at the
workplace.
Refuse to do anything to undermine him/her.
That means you should not challenge your boss in
public/meeting place.
Seek a private audience with your boss, if you have a
different opinion about an issue he/she is passionate
about
Be professional
Don’t compromise on your professional values even if
that will cost you a position or your job.
The company may put out damaging information
about you, but the truth will eventually come out that
you stood for what is right and got fried or fired
You will get bigger and better job offers
Leave work issues at office
Resolve not to take office / work issues home.
Don’t complain about your colleagues or your boss to
your wife.
Women are more emotionally courageous than men.
They may come fighting for you and cause you more
stress at the office.
