But Work Stress is a Part of Life, Right?

Posted on December 09, 2023 by Amy Stevens, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

When thinking about workplace stress, we can easily fall into one of two extremes in our outlook You may think that extreme stress is a normal part of work life and is necessary for career advancement and business success. Alternatively, you may think that all stress is bad and that if you are always not in a state of zen-like feelings, then something is wrong. As an I/O Psychologist and business coach, I would submit that both are correct, and both are incorrect! The answer for each individual will be uniquely constructed, using a variety of factors, and can become clear through a good coaching relationship.

What does psychological research say?

Current research demonstrates that work stressors are considered to be hazards for employees and that there are negative outcomes for both individuals and organizations. These impacts include reduced decision-making effectiveness, decreased cognitive functioning, and decreased overall mental health and well-being across occupations and industries. In addition, these negative outcomes have also been linked to decreased job performance, organizational resilience, and organizational commitment (Tamers et al., 2020).

So how much is too much?

When high-stress environments exceed the resources of the individual, the stage is set for burnout. Burnout goes well beyond regular job stress concerns and results in consequences including decreased quality of work, increased turnover, absenteeism, increased personal distress, increased use of drugs and alcohol, and marital and family problems. According to Edu-Valsania et al. (2022), the World Health Organization has recently included burnout as a recognized syndrome resulting from these types of psychosocial occupational hazards.

How can coaching help?

Coaching can help individuals gain clarity and perspective through the following conversations and frameworks:
• Examination of real versus perceived threats and stressors
• Creation of coping and resilience strategies
• Shifts in evaluation of capabilities and resources
• Honest perspective of organizational demands versus internal demands
• Evaluation of habits, tendencies, and efficiencies
• Understanding personal physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual health

By examining these areas, each person can identify if there is an internal or external concern for their own performance and health, and for that of their employees and teams! Once the diagnosis is determined, a solid strategy can come into play for each unique individual to maximize their well-being and performance.

 Edu-Valsania, S., Laguia, A., & Moriano, J. A. (2022). Burnout: A review of theory and measurement. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19, 1-27.

Tamers, S. L., Streit, J. S., Pana-Cryan, R., Ray, T., Syron, L., Flynn, M. A., Castillo, D., Roth, G., Geraci, C., Guerin, R., Schulte, P., Henn, S., Change, C., Felnor, S., & Howard, J. (2020). Envisioning the future of work to safeguard the safety, health, and well-being of the workforce: A perspective from the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.