Why It's Vital to Relieve Work Stress

By Dennis McCafferty | Posted 2016-09-22

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Why It's Vital to Relieve Work Stress

A significant number of professionals said they are stressed out often or all the time, and that lowers productivity, decreases engagement and endangers health.
High Anxiety

57% of the professionals surveyed said they are "sometimes" stressed, and 28% said they are stressed "often" or "always."
My Mistake

82% of the survey respondents said that creating errors at work is a major cause of stress.
Full Plate

52% cited a challenging workload, long hours and/or juggling multiple responsibilities as a top source of stress.
Agitated State

52% said moments of conflict, such as being reprimanded or delivering a difficult message, frequently result in stress.
Under Pressure

46% of the respondents feel that urgent situations, such as critical projects or major deadlines, are major contributors to stress.
On the Spot

45% said face-to-face interactions, such as making presentations or meeting new stakeholders, stress them out.
Stress Relief: Taking the Plunge

83% of the professionals surveyed said they deal with stress by jumping right in and tackling an issue head-on.
Stress Relief: Thinking It Through

79% said they use cognitive coping mechanisms to relieve stress, such as stepping back and thinking through possible scenarios.
Stress Relief: Making a Plan

78% of the respondents turn to groundwork to manage stress, meaning they come up with an organized plan while seeking further information.
Stress Relief: Talking It Out

47% said they favor interpersonal coping strategies, which include talking to someone about the problem and bouncing around ideas about how to overcome the problem.
Stress Relief: Taking a Break

46% of the professionals call a time out during stressful moments and walk away from the issue for, say, a social break or a workout.
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Work-related stress is a common ailment for most employees, according to a recent survey from Deloitte. The resulting report, "The Stress Study: Business Chemistry," reveals that a significant number of professionals said they are stressed out often or all the time. Project and task errors are the leading source of these issues, but long hours, office conflict and urgent deadlines also contribute greatly. Fortunately, the survey also includes the most popular coping mechanisms for dealing with stress on the job. Some employees like to tackle a stress-generating issue head-on, while others like to give it some thought taking any actions. Whatever works, you should come up with your own coping plan—because you may run the risk of career-threatening burnout if you don't. Stress "may be one of the most talked about workplace topics of our time," according to the report. "Enter 'workplace stress' into a search engine, and you'll find thousands and thousands of articles outlining what's stressful, why it's stressful, how to cope, and the consequences if we don't. Increasingly, stress at work is acknowledged as an engagement-sapper, a productivity-stealer and a dangerous health risk." More than 23,000 professionals took part in the research.

Dennis McCafferty is a freelance writer for Baseline Magazine.