Better Manager 7th prelims:Better Manager 7th edition

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

The symptoms of stress that you can observe in others or your-
self include inability to cope with the demands of the job (which
creates more stress), tiredness, lethargy, lack of enthusiasm and
bad temper.

MANAGING STRESS IN OTHERS – WHAT THE

ORGANIZATION CAN DO

Organizations can manage stress by developing processes and
policies which can be implemented by line managers and
specialist staff. These include:

■ clarifying roles to reduce role ambiguity and give people
more autonomy;
■ setting reasonable and achievable performance standards;
■ establishing performance management processes which en -
cour age a dialogue about work and its pressures between
managers and their staff;
■ giving individuals the opportunity to obtain professional
counselling;
■ developing anti-bullying policies;
■ developing work–life balance policies which take account of
the pressures on employees as parents, partners or carers,
and which can include provisions such as special leave or
flexible working hours.

184 How to be an Even Better Manager

Performance

Pressure Stress

Figure 30.1 How pressure becomes stress