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Unit 12: Handling Stress at Workplace

potential stressors. The minor or major changes that occur in the external environment may Notes
also contribute towards generation of stress. The major contributors to stress are depicted in
Figure 12.2.

Figure 12.2: Sources of Stress

Potential stressors
Personal factors
Type of personality
Hardiness and optimism
Life stressors: life changes and life trauma
Stress
Organizational factors
Task demands
Role demands
Physical demands
Environmental factors
Economic uncertainty
Technological changes
Politics

With the help of diagram draw flow chart for sources of stresses.

12.4 Personality and Stress

Personality plays a significant role in how we perceive stress. An experience that is stressful
for one person may be part of a routine work for another. Our personality types play a critical
role in determining our reactions to stress.

12.4.1 Types of Personality
Cardiologists Meyer Friedman and Ray Rosenman have identified two different personality
types and have labelled them Type A and Type B. The main characteristics of people with Type
A personality are that they are impatient, competitive, aggressive, restless and under intense
perceived time pressure, always attempting to accomplish several things at once. The Type B
personalities do not feel tired even under pressure and they take things in a more relaxed
manner and enjoy a variety of non-work-oriented activities.
As Type A personalities tend to work under tight deadlines and devote long hours to
accomplishing their duties and responsibilities, they achieve promotions at a very rapid speed.
Initially, they report a high level of job satisfaction and do not report a high incidence of health
problems. However, they seldom manage to retain good health for a long time and, therefore,
do not generally reach top-level positions in organizations. The reasons for these can be ascribed
to the fact that they do not spend much time on the analysis of complex problems and this
impatience and hostility produces stress and discomfort for those with whom they work. As
a result of this, the most successful business executives at the top level are Type B individuals
who are more patient and try to maintain pleasant interpersonal relationships with their
employees to maintain organizational harmony.

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