Positive Stress?

Stress is the body's and mind's process for dealing with uncertain change and danger. Elimination of stress is both impossible and undesirable.

The Army's Leaders' Manual for Combat Stress Control gives the following objectives of stress control (and you can translate this information for corporate use as well).

Objectives:

1. To contain stress
2. To maximize peak performance and accomplish unit missions
3. To return stress levels to normal when they are out of control
4. To increase stress tolerance so soldiers can perform under the severe stress situations that are unavoidable in combat

Maintaining proper stress levels helps achieve the mission. You might have seen this in your own company as the team leader coached, persuaded, demanded higher achievement. The leader knew the team could get the job done, and the increased stress helped you do the impossible.

Leaders also need to know how to contain the stress so it doesn't have a negative impact on individuals or the mission. And when the mission is achieved, the leader needs to know how to return stress levels to normal. If the levels are not adjusted, you'll see a negative impact on health and productivity.

You can see how #4 above relates to combat soldiers, but do you see how it is important in the corporate arena? Just as military leaders, corporate leaders need to know how to develop employee stress tolerance to get the job done and keep on going in tough times--how to respond when customers are out of control; how to prepare the order when things are not going right; how to get the paperwork done in time; how to get new business when everything is against you.

Positive stress is essential for routine and special performance, so leaders need to understand how to crank up the heat and how to contain stress before it takes a toll on the people and the business.