Managing Stress, Conflict, and Emotions
- Stress: Concept and Management
Definition of Stress
- Stress is the body’s reaction to any demand or challenge (physical, emotional, or mental).
- In an organization, stress is the emotional and physiological response to work-related pressure.
Types of Stress
|
Type |
Description |
|
Eustress |
Positive stress (motivational) |
|
Distress |
Negative stress (harmful) |
Sources of Stress
- Organizational – Workload, role ambiguity, poor leadership
- Personal – Family issues, financial problems
- Environmental – Noise, pollution, change
- Occupational – Job insecurity, lack of control
Stress Management Techniques
|
Techniques |
Examples |
|
Physical |
Exercise, sleep, proper nutrition |
|
Psychological |
Meditation, yoga, relaxation |
|
Time management |
Prioritizing tasks, delegation |
|
Organizational interventions |
Job redesign, role clarification, work breaks |
|
Social support |
Talking to peers, friends, or counselors |
🧘 Stress audit or stress diaries are used to identify stressors.
- Conflict: Types and Management
Definition of Conflict; Conflict is a disagreement or clash of interests, ideas, or values between individuals or groups.
Types of Conflict
|
Type |
Description |
|
Intrapersonal |
Within an individual (values vs actions) |
|
Interpersonal |
Between two individuals |
|
Intragroup |
Within a team or group |
|
Intergroup |
Between different groups |
Conflict Management Styles (Thomas-Kilmann Model)
|
Style |
Approach |
Best Used When… |
|
Avoiding |
Ignoring the issue |
Issue is trivial or not worth the effort |
|
Accommodating |
Yielding to others |
When you are wrong or to preserve harmony |
|
Competing |
Forcing solution |
Quick, decisive action is needed |
|
Compromising |
Give-and-take |
Temporary solution, both sides gain something |
|
Collaborating |
Win-win |
When both sides’ concerns are important |
- Emotions in the Workplace
Definition of Emotion; Emotions are intense feelings directed at someone or something, affecting behavior and decision-making.
Types of Emotions
- Positive: Joy, pride, love, hope
- Negative: Anger, fear, anxiety, frustration
Emotional Intelligence (EI)
- Concept given by Daniel Goleman
- EI is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others.
🔷 Five Components of Emotional Intelligence
- Self-awareness – Knowing one’s emotions
- Self-regulation – Managing emotions
- Motivation – Being driven to achieve
- Empathy – Understanding others’ feelings
- Social skills – Managing relationships
📑 Summary Table
|
Topic |
Focus |
Management Techniques |
|
Stress |
Reaction to pressure/demand |
Time mgmt, yoga, exercise, counseling, job redesign |
|
Conflict |
Disagreement/clash |
Collaboration, compromise, communication, mediation |
|
Emotions |
Feelings affecting behavior |
Emotional intelligence, empathy, feedback, regulation |
