Most jobs come with a certain amount of stress. Even business owners deal with stressful situations. However, many people deal with high stress jobs on a daily basis. The causes of job stress can be caused from several factors. A pushy boss, demanding deadlines, work overload, just to name a few. These scenarios can cause any person's blood to rise!
The most common cause of job stress is usually the work itself. Particularly when you are a good employee and good at what you do, it's not uncommon for work to pile up because you're the one your co-workers depend on. Sometimes the stress can become so much that you may end up quitting your job.
Depending on your job, quitting doesn't have to be the last resort if you do like where you work. Here are a few options to consider before calling it quits.
Go Easy On Yourself
Sometimes the biggest demands placed on you are put there by yourself. When you are faced with a huge workload, remember that the work will still be there tomorrow. Do what you can and realize that whatever you don't finish can be worked on the next day. Easier said than done I know, but looking back, the many times that I found myself stressing at my previous job was caused by me. Many times when I met a deadline much sooner than expected, the project was often pushed back to a new due date for no good reason. All after I placed an overwhelming amount of stress on myself to get done early.
Talk to HR
Large companies tend to have an HR (Human Resources) Department with someone designated to be the "go to" person for any employee issues. You can speak with them on a personal level and share as much or as little information as you need to help resolve your issue. It helps to get your stress out in the open because many times, you are not the only one experiencing stress. HR may decide to step in and hire outside consultants who are experts in work related stress.
Share Your Workload
Unless you are the only one working in your department you can usually find someone who can help share your workload. Don't wait until you are about to explode before you let your boss know that you have too much on your plate. It's better to speak up right away, otherwise when deadlines are missed, others will turn to you and ask why you didn't seek help sooner.
Dealing with stress is something that can't be denied. Remember not to let yourself become so stressed out at work that it begins to take a physical toll on your body. Take time out for yourself during the day. Take advantage of you breaks and lunch hour to relax. Also leave work at work once you make it home at the end of the day. Your leisure time is your time.
For tips, resources, articles, and products related to becoming your own boss, visit Self Employed Blog and Home Based Business Bliss.
Eartha Haines is an editor for Self Employed Blog, a web site dedicated to promoting the self-employed lifestyle and to share ideas, products, and opportunities that may help others move closer to their dream of being their own boss.
Life is too short to work at a job that brings daily dissatisfaction. It doesn’t matter what type of work you do. You owe it to yourself to find satisfaction with your work. If you are unhappy on the job, that unhappiness will spread to all part of your life. Unhappy workers make unhappy spouses, parents, and friends. Here are tips on how you can make your job a more satisfying experience and remove stress, unhappiness, and frustration from your job environment forever.
Take pride in your work—Whether you dig ditches or run a billion dollar corporation, give every action the best you have to offer. Don’t accept second-rate performance. Doing your best is a prideful act. Knowing you’ve done your best is a prideful feeling. So, be proud!
Bring enthusiasm to your work—Your thinking controls your attitude. Since you have total control of your thought process, you control your attitudes. Now I know some of you are saying, “Billy, I just can’t be enthusiastic about this boring job.” Let me challenge you to change your attitude and act enthusiastically, no matter how bad you feel. By acting enthusiastically, you will soon feel enthusiastic. By feeling enthusiastic, you will be enthusiastic. By being enthusiastic, you will begin to view your job differently. Don’t dismiss this idea without trying it first. A warning—this may change your life.
Look beyond the routine parts of your job—Exam your daily activities to see if you can come up with ways to make the activities more fun, exciting, and rewarding. Be creative. Think hard. You will surprise yourself with the number of possibilities that you surface with just a little creative thinking. Can you add more to what you do? What can you do that no one else is doing? What is needed that is not now being done? Can I do these activities? Answering these questions will open an endless array of opportunities to grow and build job satisfaction.
Become the expert in your field—Earl Nightingale first stimulated me to think about this possibility. He said that by studying our job for one hour a day while making permanent notes, in a five-year period we could become an expert in that discipline. Strong concentration in a specialty niche is a great way to build your expertise. Commit to this process and you open multiple opportunities for advancement on your job. You will also build enthusiasm for the subject matter because the more you learn about a subject, the higher your interest becomes. It’s a self-feeding process that can bring outstanding results to your career possibilities.
Always be professional—Acting professionally means you will always work at the highest standards. You cooperate with peers. You avail yourself to those who need your expertise. You do things right the first time. Professionals enjoy their work. Amateurs find excuses to be unprofessional and complain about how boring and unchallenging a job they have.
Avoid self-limitations—Our thinking can sometimes limit our possibilities. Don’t box yourself into a lesser posture because of your own self-limiting thoughts. We have far more abilities than we give ourselves credit for having and we seldom challenge ourselves to stretch beyond the routine. Working with pride, enthusiasm and a high degree of expertise automatically breaks the bondage of self-limitations. What limits are holding you back? What limitations are building dissatisfaction with your work?
Build a library of information—One needs to have resources available in times of need. Invest in books, tapes, and videos about your job. Attend seminars. Network with others in your field. Write personal notes and implement key ideas learned from these resources. All contribute to building your expertise and job satisfaction.
Look in your own pastures first—Cows are always trying to eat the grass on the other side of the fence. They, like us, often think that the grass is greener in the other pasture. We ignore the opportunities under our feet and tend to look in distant places for satisfaction. By implementing the ideas previously discussed, we make our own pastures green and reduce the need for looking over the fence.
B.C. Forbes said it best. He said, “Look upon your work as the lever by which you can rise in the world. To get the best and most out of life, put the best and most of yourself into it. Eventually, each of use gets the reward we merit.”
Billy Arcement, MEd., works with business leaders to develop a culture of teamwork, productivity and profits. He speaks, consults, and writes professionally and authored the book, Searching for Success. For questions about this article or to receive a complimentary copy of his electronic newsletter, call him at (225) 677-9426 or send e-mail to barcement@eatel.net. Learn more about his services at http://www.SearchingForSuccess.com 2006. The Results Group. Use with permission.
How To Deal With A Toxic Boss Without Changing Jobs!
We've all been there, right? The familiar dread that seeps into your subconscious on Sunday nights when you have to return to "You know where" in the morning! Yes, it is the familiar angst of returning either to a dead-end job or dealing with a toxic boss. Has your relationship with your boss taken a turn for the worse? Do you sense that the tension in the air when you interact with your boss? Relax, it's time to turn things around and it starts with YOU.
We need to evaluate how and when things turned sour. Grab a paper and a pen and be honest with yourself. Was their a miscommunication? or perhaps confrontation to cause the issues at work? or is your boss simply difficult to work with? We'll address both scenarios in this article.
Miscommunication/confrontations: Determine what the issue is and write it down on the pad. What was your boss's reaction and what was your reaction to the issue? Time for honesty here if you truly want to work things out. Make a list of anything you think that might have contributed to the misfire in communication.
SCHEDULE A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING WITH YOUR BOSS: Choose a day and time where your boss will not be rushed for time or have meetings most of the day. You want the meeting to be as relaxed as possible. Put your best smile on and request to meet with your boss.
BEFORE THE MEETING: Organize your notes. Jot down any ideas or issues you want to clarify and practice speaking your points. DO NOT USE THE FOLLOWING PHRASES! YOU ALWAYS, YOU NEVER. This only enflames the situation by setting an accusatory tone. You want to heal this relationship, not make it worse, right?
DURING THE MEETING: Thank your boss for meeting with you. Tell him/her why you wanted to meet with them. A sample opener might be, "First of all, I would like to thank you for meeting with me. The reason I wanted to meet with you is that I am feeling that there is some tension between us due to "the issue". Do you feel the same? Have your pad and pen ready to jot notes as your boss speaks. Always speak in a friendly tone and listen to what they have to say. If your boss states that there is a problem between the two of you, ask them the following: "What can I do to improve this situation?".
Once your boss details what you can do, make sure you understand their position and ask for a follow- up meeting to measure your progress. This shows your boss you are willing to take ownership of the solution.
AFTER THE MEETING: Send an email to your boss thanking them for setting time aside for meeting with you. Include the bullet points you each discussed and that you both agreed that a follow-up meeting would be scheduled to see if progress is being made. Ask for your boss to clarify if any points are inaccurate that you just detailed. Save your email and your boss's response if any.
Now, you may be saying to yourself, "But, my boss is the one to blame! Not me!". That may be true. If the relationship with your boss is due to a larger, more involved issue, you may need to involve Human Resources to mediate. If that is the case, you have proof from your email that you tried your best to address the problem in a professional and conciliatory manner. This will always work in your favor.
Good luck and happy employment!
Taryn Simpson is a published author and freelance writer with over 15 years of HR experience. Ms. Simpson owns her own writing company, Simpson - E Publishing which offers clients ghostwriting of novels/articles, web content, brochures, newsletters, press releases and more. Sign up to recieve her free newsletter for writer's tips and news on her website.http://www.Simpson-EPublishing.com. To learn more about this writer, feel free to visit her online presskit: http://www.TarynSimpson.com
You have spent a lot of time polishing your resume, your interviewing skills, and your image. You've worked hard to land that new job. You arrive on your first day and are eager to dig in but there is a period of adjusting to the company culture that often feels like someone put the brakes on your enthusiasm. But don't make the mistake of allowing this period of adjustment to your new company to go on too long! Follow these 5 steps during the early weeks to move your career forward and ensure your success.
1. Get to know the organization. This includes identifying the key people in the organization and making sure you know how the organization works, both the formal and informal organization. Remembers names/titles quickly. While the informal organization may be a bit harder to identify, it is imperative that you learn how work gets accomplished through this informal channel.
2. Know your immediate manager's goals. Understand your manager's style of communication. This includes knowing how much information they want from you, when they want an update. Know what is expected of you, what your goals are, how you will achieve them.
3. Identify the major company projects. Learn what the key projects are in the company and how your job links to these major initiatives. Identify who is involved in these projects, who the project leaders are and how you get yourself involved in some of the key projects.
4. Map a plan for some early successes. Be action oriented. Take the initiative. Create a plan for yourself - don't wait for your boss to do this for you. Show him/her that you are a person who can help them to be successful.
5. Document your strategy, timeline and accomplishments. Keep a record of your accomplishments. Meet often with your manager to ensure that you are on track with his/her plans. If not, be willing to adjust your work to address your manager's strategic plan.
Following these 5 steps will give you an edge on succeeding on your new job. Remember, there is always a "new kid on the block" timeframe, so be willing to accept that you may have to work a little harder in the beginning to fit in and show your new manager that you have what it takes to succeed. Not just your success, but his or her success as well!
Linda Trignano is a HR Consultant and Career Coach helping individuals move through life’s difficult transitions. She helps her clients move from who they are today to who they want to be tomorrow. She can be reached at www.hrperformancesolutions.com; or by phone 973-839-5068 for company and individual training and coaching needs. Ask about the DiSC assessments to help increase your confidence.
