Misunderstandings and communication problems remain one of the most common
sources of workplace strife, and interpersonal difficulties are magnified when
conflicting work styles coexist in one setting. Generational differences (baby
boomers vs. GenX-ers), personal management styles, educational background, and
cultural diversity are all potential sources of office
misunderstandings.
While conflict is inevitable, it need not ruin your
workday or cause unbearable stress. Try these conflict resolution tips to make
your work environment a less stressful, more productive place:
Be specific in formulating your complaints. "I'm never invited to
meetings" is not as effective as "I believe I would have been able to
contribute some ideas at last Thursday's marketing meeting."
Resist the temptation to involve yourself in conflicts that do not
directly involve you or your responsibilities. Even if someone has clearly
been wronged, allow him or her to resolve the situation as he/she chooses.
Try to depersonalize conflicts. Instead of a "me versus you" mentality,
visualize an "us versus the problem" scenario. This is not only a more
professional attitude, but it will also improve productivity and is in the
best interests of the company.
Be open and listen to another's point of view and reflect back to
the person as to what you think you heard. This important clarification
skill leads to less misunderstanding, with the other person feeling heard
and understood. Before explaining your own position, try to paraphrase and
condense what the other is saying into one or two sentences. Start with, "So
you're saying that..." and see how much you really understand about your rival's position. You may find that you're on the same wavelength but having
problems communicating your ideas.
Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses
that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities,
resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even
injury.
The concept of job stress is often confused with challenge, but
these concepts are not the same. Challenge energizes us psychologically and
physically, and it motivates us to learn new skills and master our jobs. When a
challenge is met, we feel relaxed and satisfied. Thus, challenge is an important
ingredient for healthy and productive work. The importance of challenge in our
work lives is probably what people are referring to when they say "a little
bit of stress is good for you."
When the challenge has turned into job
demands that cannot be met, relaxation has turned to exhaustion, and a sense of satisfaction
has turned into feelings of stress, the sate is set for illness, injury and job
failure.
What are the causes of job stress?
Nearly everyone agrees
that job stress results from the interaction of the worker and the conditions of
work. Views differ, however, on the importance of worker characteristics
versus working conditions as the primary cause of job stress. These
differing viewpoints are important because they suggest different ways to
prevent stress at work.
According to one school of thought, differences in individual characteristics
such as personality and coping style are most important in predicting whether
certain job conditions will result in stress -- in other words, what is
stressful for one person may not be a problem for someone else. This viewpoint
leads to prevention strategies that focus on workers in ways to help them cope
with demanding job conditions.
Although the importance of individual differences cannot be ignored,
scientific evidence suggests that certain working conditions are stressful to
most people (for example, excessive workload demands and/or conflicting
expectations). Such evidence argues for a greater emphasis on working conditions
as the key source of job stress, and for job redesign as a primary prevention
strategy.
According to the NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health), these are job conditions that may lead to stress:
The design of tasks. Heavy workload, infrequent rest breaks, long
work hours and shiftwork; hectic and routine tasks that have little inherent
meaning, do not utilize workers' skills, and provide little sense of
control.
Management style. Lack of participation by workers in
decision-making, poor communication in the organization and lack of
family-friendly policies.
Interpersonal relationships. Poor social environment and lack of
support or help from coworkers or supervisors.
Work roles. Conflicting or uncertain job expectations, too much responsibility,
too many "hats" to wear.
Career concerns. Job insecurity and lack of opportunity for growth,
advancement, or promotion; rapid changes for which workers are unprepared.
Environmental conditions. Unpleasant or dangerous physical
conditions such as crowding, noise, air pollution, or ergonomic
problems.
A pinched nerve can be caused of a variety of conditions, for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, spinal stenosis, trauma, and more. Common symptoms of a pinched nerve include pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness. Treatment of a pinched nerve depends on the cause of the pinched nerve.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Alcoholism is a disease that includes alcohol craving and continued drinking despite repeated alcohol-related problems, such as losing a job or getting into trouble with the law.
The common cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection) is a contagious illness that may be caused by various viruses. Symptoms include a stuffy nose, headache, cough, sore throat, and maybe a fever. Antibiotics have no effect upon the common cold, and there is no evidence that zinc and vitamin C are effective treatments.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which irritation of the wrist's median nerve causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers. This condition is known as tarsal tunnel syndrome in the ankles and feet. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and the nature of any disease that might be causing the symptoms.
The hepatitis B virus is a unique, coated DNA virus belonging to the Hepadnaviridae family of viruses. The course of the virus is determined primarily by the age at which the infection is acquired and the interaction between the virus and the body's immune system. Successful treatment is associated with a reduction in liver injury and fibrosis (scarring), a decreased likelihood of developing cirrhosis and its complications, including liver cancer, and a prolonged survival.
A tension headache is a headache previously thought to be caused by contraction of the muscles in the back of the neck, on the scalp, and sometimes in the jaw. The term tension-type headache is now preferred, reflecting the fact that research has shown that these headaches may not be related to muscle tension.
Drug addiction is a chronic disease that causes drug-seeking behavior and drug use despite negative consequences to the user and those around him. Though the initial decision to use drugs is voluntary, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person's self-control and ability to make the right decisions and increase the urge to take drugs. Drug abuse and addiction are preventable.
Hepatitis is most often viral, due to infection with one of the hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, D, E, F (not confirmed), and G) or another virus (such as those that cause infectious mononucleosis, cytomegalovirus disease). The main nonviral causes of hepatitis are alcohol and drugs. Many patients infected with hepatitis A, B, and C have few or no symptoms of illness. For those who do develop symptoms of viral hepatitis, the most common are flu- like symptoms including: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fever, weakness, tiredness, and aching in the abdomen. Treatment of viral hepatitis is dependant on the type of hepatitis.
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is caused by a buildup of cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, heredity, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose coronary artery disease. Treatment includes life-style changes, medications, procedures, or surgery.
Dry eyes are caused by an imbalance in the tear-flow system of the eye, but also can be caused by the drying out of the tear film. This can be due to dry air created by air conditioning, heat, or other environmental conditions.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in water, soil, and the air. Mercury is also contained in some fish, some of the products we use in the home, school, or dentist. Information about sources of mercury exposure, potential health effects, symptoms of exposure, fish that may contain mercury, consumer products that contain mercury, and ways to reduce your exposure to mercury is important for the health of you, and your family.
Grief is the feeling one experiences after a loss (of a friendship, death of loved one, job). Complicated grief refers to grief that lasts for more than a year. Mourning describes the customs and rituals that help a bereaved individual make sense of their loss.
ADHD afflicts approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children and an estimated 60 percent of those maintain the disorder into adulthood. Symptoms of adult ADHD include chronic lateness, anxiety, low self esteem, employment problems, difficulty controlling anger, impulsiveness, poor organization skills, procrastination, chronic boredom among others.
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that tends to occur as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder include tiredness, fatigue, depression, irritability, body aches, poor sleep and overeating.
Travelers' diarrhea is generally contracted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Food is the primary source of travelers' diarrhea. Enterotoxigenic E. coli is the cause of up to 70% of all cases of travelers' diarrhea. There are five unique classes of E. coli that causes gastroenteritis. Other bacteria responsible for travelers' diarrhea include
Campylobacter, jejuni, shigella, and salmonella. Viruses such as rotavirus and Norwalk virus (norovirus) and giardia lamblia a parasite may cause travelers' diarrhea. Prevention is careful eating and drinking of water.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
The connection between stress and heart disease is not clear. Stress itself may be a risk factor, or high levels of stress may make risk factors for heart disease worse. The warning signs of stress can be physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral. Reducing stressors in an individuals life not only can lead to a more productive life, but may also decrease the risk for heart disease and causes of heart disease.
Stress may be considered as any physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental unrest and that may be a factor in disease causation. An important goal for those under stress is the management of stress in our lives. Elimination of stress is unrealistic, since stress is a part of normal life. We can however, learn to manage stress through techniques such as exercise, relaxation, meditation, time management, and support systems so that we have control over our stress and its effects on our physical and mental health.
Bad breath can result from poor oral hygien habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be made worse by the types of food you eat and other unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Pregnancy planning is important to help prevent exposure of the mother and fetus to potentially harmful medications and substances during the early days, and throughout the pregnancy. Nutritional planning, prevention of birth defects, conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and kidney disease need careful monitoring. Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and pregnancy induced hypertension are conditions that may arise during pregnancy. Immunizations, inherited disorders, exercise, air travel, intercourse, and birth control are important factors to consider when planning a pregnancy.
Travelers should prepare for their trip by visiting their physician to get the proper vaccinations and obtain the necessary medication if they have a medical condition or chronic disease. Diseases that travelers may pick up from contaminated water or food, insect or animal bites, or from other people include malaria, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, polio, and cholera.
Though it's difficult to say why some people develop cancer while others don't, research shows that certain risk factors increase a person's odds of developing cancer. These risk factors include growing older, family history of cancer, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and exposure to sunlight, ionizing radiation, certain chemicals, and some viruses and bacteria.
Though the holidays are a fun time for most, for others, they're a sad, lonely and anxiety-filled time. Get tips on how to avoid depression and stress during the holiday season.
Asbestos exposure lung disease is divided into three main types, asbestosis (lung scarring caused by asbestos fibers), disease of the lining of the lung (pleural plaques, scarring, or fluid accumulation), and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer of the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Cancers of the larynx, throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder have been linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment is dependant upon the type of condition related to asbestos exposure.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of disease. Regular exercise can also reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. There are fitness programs that fit any age or lifestyle.
The term 'hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be caused
by viruses, other
infectious agents, alcohol, and other chemicals. The two viruses that most
commonly infect the liver are the hepatitis A virus and the hepatitis B virus.
Although their names are similar, these viruses are not related. They differ in
the way they are transmitted from person to person and their ability to cause
chronic infection.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is caused by a virus which is spread predominately through the
fecal-oral route when small amounts of infected fecal matter are inadvertently
ingested. Infected individuals shed large amounts of the virus in their stool,
starting about two weeks before symptoms present, and continue shedding the
virus in their stool for one to three
months.
Close contact with an infected person increases the chances of
contracting
the virus.
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