In this issue we look at the steps you need to take to make the most of your life; how to present a verbal report with confidence and some tips on keeping your stress levels under control.

• Editor's Desk
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• Bite 2
• Bite 3
• Working Web
• Last Word

Coping with Stress

Stress is something we all face and something we all have to face up to. It is not, however, all harmful. Without some stress, life would be very dull and uninteresting. So up to the point where it starts to reduce your level of work performance it can be beneficial and help to keep you 'on your toes'. This is when stress is helping you and you are in control of the stresses you face.

The big danger comes when stress starts to get on top of you and affects your work performance. So let us look at the most common causes of stress that affect business people:

1. Overwork

2. Tiredness

3. Worry about business

4. The unexpected happening

5. Setting unrealistically high goals and objectives

6. Outside influences

Knowing about these things is the first step to combating them.

There can be many reasons why you find yourself overworking. Often the most common cause is your own enthusiasm. If you are doing well there is a natural tendency to try to do even better. This can over-stretch your work capacity.

In a very competitive situation it may be necessary to work long hours. The same will apply if you are short-staffed for a period. The important point to realise is that hard work in itself is not harmful. But it does become harmful when you work so hard that you are regularly exhausted.

The way to cope with this is to analyse your circumstances and find ways to reduce your work-load. If you don't, your health will suffer and you won't be able to work as long or as hard as before.

Tiredness is often the result of overwork. We all know that when we are tired even simple jobs seem much harder. Things get on top of us much more quickly, we can't cope as well and we become depressed. If you are becoming overtired find ways to rest and relax.

Worry about work is something nearly every manager or business person faces at some time. It can't be helped.

What you can do, however, is fight against it. The best way, once again, is by detailed and careful planning. When you have proper control over your business or department, this can relieve a lot of the worry. If things look bad you can take positive action to tackle the problems. Often, however, you will find that things are not as bad as you feared. This then gives you the chance to concentrate on the positive aspects and you worry less.

Sometimes the unexpected can knock you off course. If you are running a small business this could be new competition, a supplier goes out of business, supplies become short, prices increase sharply or whatever. If you are a manager you could face staff cut-backs or even redundancy for yourself.

In such situations you have to adapt as quickly as you can to the new circumstances. The more aware you are of the world around you, the less likely you are to be caught out by the unexpected. So, keep up your observation of local business conditions and the general economic circumstances around you.

Some people set objectives and goals which are unrealistic. When these targets are not met this can lead to stress. This can apply in both your work life and your private life. So, be realistic in your aims and objectives. Try to match your personal ambitions with the realities around you.

Factors outside the business can cause stress. This is particularly so if you are suffering from ill health; if relationships at home are difficult or if money is tight. One of the biggest difficulties in dealing with stress is recognising when it is having an adverse effect. Often the person suffering from stress is the last one to realise it. Somebody else usually has to tell them about it. So, what are the symptoms of stress? Someone suffering from stress might show some, or all, of the following:

1. They are constantly anxious and worried about their work.

2. They are frequently irritable and bad tempered.

3. They get excited quickly and are always 'on edge'.

4. Forgetfulness can occur. 

5. They lose the ability to concentrate.This is often associated with over-tiredness.

6. In extreme cases they become bored and apathetic. They no longer care.

7. They lose their sense of proportion. Small incidents become blown up into major situations.

8. They are regularly depressed.

Further signs that someone is suffering from stress can be constant headaches, stomach and indigestion problems and a feeling of tension.

So, what can you do about it? It is not all bad news - you can prevent a lot of stress occurring and go a long way to combating it when it does.

Good planning and time management are enormously helpful. But there are also certain things you can do with your lifestyle that will help you control your stress levels.

The first of these is that you must create time to relax and unwinde. The way you do this will depend on your preferences. However, those that involve some physical activity seem to be the most popular and effective. Sports such as golf, tennis, swimming, walking and keep-fit are particularly popular. They have the big advantage of helping to keep your body fit while letting your mind relax.

It is important to choose a recreation that does not put more stress on you. If you join the committee of a club or take on other responsibilities, it is not likely to be relaxing. Instead you are just adding to the pressures.

Tied up closely with relaxing is getting enough rest. Holidays and short breaks are very valuable. They refresh you and give you a better perspective on your work. People who take regular breaks perform much better when they return. It is not always easy, but you will find it worthwhile - from both a business and personal point of view.

Another important way to combat stress is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means a good, balanced diet, moderation in drinking and, if possible, avoiding smoking. In some ways this may seem like preaching. But what we are trying to do is help you cope with the stress you will meet.

Executive 'burn-out' can be a real problem. When this happens work performance deteriorates badly. In the worst cases sufferers are unable to work at all.

There is one further way to help you combat stress. Try to discover what causes stress for you. You may have to talk through your problems with someone else - a friend, a family member, a professional advisor. They will probably be able to give you a different view point, and it is surprising how often a problem seems much smaller and less severe once you have discussed it.

We hope you found these simple tips helpful. Here are some questions to test your comprehension. Decide in each case whether you think the statement is True (T) or False (F).

1. Stress is always harmful.

2. Hard work is only harmful when you regularly feel exhausted at the end of the day.

3. The best way to avoid worry about work is by detailed and careful planning.

4. You should match your personal ambitions with the reality of your circumstances.

5. You have absolutely no control over your stress levels.

6. Never waste your time relaxing or going on holiday - just try to work harder.