Surviving
Jobs That Are Intrinsically Stressful
Job
Stress Management from Mind Tools
Some jobs are intrinsically stressful.
For example, customer service departments
in call centers can be extremely stressful,
particularly where customers are unpleasant,
rude or angry. Production line workers on
continually moving production lines can
experience intense pressure from the constant,
unrelenting demands on their performance.
Managing people can be stressful, particularly
where managers face regular interruption
from staff at the same time that they are
trying to complete work themselves.
Pressures and stress are part of these
jobs, and while you may be able to eliminate
some pressures, others will always remain.
Major contributors to job stress are lack
of information, poor environments, lack
of control over work and the pace of work,
frequent distraction and upset, and frustration
of goals. People can also find that the
demands of their jobs conflict with their
values, beliefs or goals. This can cause
intense stress.
In these jobs, you often do not have the
power to change them, and 'action-oriented'
stress management strategies have only so
much effect. The best approaches here may
be the rational
thinking strategies and ‘buffers
against stress’ approaches we
discuss elsewhere on this site.
We look at several ways of reducing stress
in stressful jobs below:
- Lack of information can often be stressful,
particularly at a time when people may
be insecure about their jobs. Often, the
best thing to do in these cases is to
ask for clarification of the situation.
Many people and organizations communicate
extremely poorly, and although managers
are often perfectly happy to share information
they simply may not think to do it. It
can also be very difficult for managers
to know that people have misunderstood
or misinterpreted their messages. This
occurs particularly often where team members
are scared of their bosses or are over-respectful
to them, and because of such, do not communicate
their lack of understanding.
Whilst it may be unprofessional for managers
to pass on all information, at least by
seeking clarification you create the opportunity
for open communication.
- Where your working environment causes
stress, take a look at our environmental
stress section. This talks about simple
things you can do to reduce the stress
that comes you’re your environment,
and improve your working conditions. Often,
things can be improved with very little
expenditure and effort.
- In particular, if you're aware that
employers are concerned about stress or
high levels of staff turnover, you may
find them open to suggestions that make
the workplace more enjoyable or pleasant.
They may be prepared to go quite far to
improve people's quality of life, if they
can see positive results coming from this.
- If you are exposed to frequent upset
and interuption, take a look at our relaxation
techniques section. This explains
simple, practical techniques that help
you manage adrenaline and relax.
- Similarly, our section on rational
and positive thinking explains how
to quiet the negative thinking that can
come with job stress, while simultaneously
helping you to identify and challenge
the goals, beliefs and interpretations
of events that may be a source of intense
stress.
- Our defenses
against stress section is also helpful
in that it shows you how to set up the
buffers against stress that will serve
to protect you. This section explains
the importance of building and using your
social networks, of taking sufficient
breaks, and of using relaxation techniques
to calm yourself down.
Ultimately, though, we reiterate the comment
we made at the start of this section: Employers
have no obligation to make jobs pleasant
or rewarding. Some jobs are intrinsically
unpleasant. If you do not like your current
job, then the best thing may be to find
a job that brings you the pleasure and the
rewards you need.
The next
article helps you deal with difficult
working relationships...
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