Coping Strategies

We cope with stress in four phases :

1. Hope it will go away. This is the 'burying your head in the sand' approach to coping. At this stage the stress isn't causing enough pain to make it worth the effort to do something about it.

2. Seek fast relief. This is the stage where most people turn to medication, alcohol, drugs or other means to numb themselves against the unpleasant physical or mental discomforts of stress.

3. Take it out on others. Taking out ours stress on others (our spouse or children can range from lashing out with an angry comment to physical abuse.

4. Seek help. Help can include the use of stress management techniques, discussing feelings with a spouse or close friend who can help us gain perspective or seeking professional counselling.

People can commonly deal with the emotional and physical aspects of stress at work, through relaxation training, physical exercise and, in certain cases, the use of drugs. Relaxation training may take the form of progressive muscular relaxation, brief relaxation exercises and several forms of meditation.

From an organisational viewpoint, stress at all levels can have a serious effect on performance. Potentially stressful organisations are those:

- which are large and bureaucratic;

- in which there are formally prescribed rules and regulations;

- where there is conflict between positions and people;

- where people are expected to work hard for long hours;

- where no praise is given;

- where the general culture is classed as ‘unfriendly’; and

- where conflict can arise between normal work and external interests eg the family.

There is a need, therefore, for organisations to do certain things if they are to reduce stress in the workplace. A Stress Management Action Plan should incorporate the following:

• Recognition of the causes and symptoms of stress at all levels.

• Decisions on the need to do something about it.

• Identification of the group or groups who may be affected by stress at work.

• Examination and evaluation by interview or questionnaire to determine the causes of stress.

• Analysis of problem areas.

• Decision on appropriate strategies eg training, time management, counselling of and support for individuals, revision of management policies in certain cases.

• Implementation of a Stress Management Programme taking the above factors into account.

Many managers still adopt the Victorian maxim 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!' Such a response is totally unhelpful to people going through stressful events in their lives, be they associated with the work situation or private life.