Clearview National July 2016 - Issue 176 | Page 71

INSTALLERSUPPORT

Stress Awareness
in the Workplace
When it comes to stress, work is said to
be the biggest culprit. More stressful than
relationship issues, money problems and even
health worries according to Mind, which says
that 41 per cent of people are stressed or
very stressed in their jobs. Yet, apart from a
small minority, we all need to work. So avoiding
it is not an option. Nor is suppressing it.
»»TRICIA WOOLFREY IS A COACH,
therapist, trainer and author specialising in
stress resilience, performance and productivity.
She says: “Many of my clients say that they are
dealing with stress perfectly well but there are
clues which suggest otherwise.”
IDENTIFYING THE
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
Signs can include:
• Getting more irritated than usual about
small things
• Working longer hours without a feeling
of progress
• Getting more headaches
• More colds and flu as their immune
system struggles under the strain
• Feeling less decisive
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feeling more tearful or less humourful
• Becoming more withdrawn
• A change in habits: increase or decrease
in appetite, alcohol on the breath or more
cigarette breaks
“Suppressing stress is a dangerous strategy
because it can lead to burnout,” Tricia
continues. “This is where an individual
experiences so much stress that they become
completely exhausted and unable to function
at anywhere near the level required of a
business, especially in challenging times. It
typically results in being signed off with stress,
for weeks or even months.

“But why is work so stressful? The reasons
can vary from person to person and business
to business but these are the themes I
experience with my clients:
• They have less influence at work than over
other areas of their life – when we feel in
control, this lessens stress levels
• Unworkable deadlines and unachievable
targets give a sense of hopelessness
• Office politics distracting from achieving
results
• Everybody wants to do a good job and if
this goes unnoticed or is criticised, it can
hit hard
• Not having the right skills for the job
• A types who are given too many
boundaries
• Not being given enough support or time
• The ‘always connected’ nature of work
means that it is hard to switch off, even on
holiday
• Cultural differences can create conflict and
confusion
• Stress is contagious – a stressed boss or
colle