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 |
