Module II- Part 4

4. People Management
Overview
Recruitment & Selection
Training & Development
Stress Management


Stress
Stress or stress response id the unconscious preparation to fight or flee a person or
experience when faced with any demand.
Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry or
anxious.
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME (GAS)
Hans Gelye is an authority on stress management who perceived the GAS which an
adaptive response that occurs in 3 phases:
Phase A: Alarm Stage It begins with a person encounters a stressor and enters the alarm
stage.
Phase B: Resistance Stage At this stage the person channels his/her energy and tries to
resist the stressors negative effects.
Phase C: Exhaustion Stage Its a short term stage where the person solves the problem
and the situation resolves.

APPROACHES TO STRESS
1. Homeostatic / Medical Approach Walter B Cannon discovered stress and named it
emergency response or military response where people tend to fight emotions.
2. Cognitive Appraisal Approach Richard Lazarus defines that stress is a situation that is
threatening and exceeds ones available resources. If something is stressful for one may
not be so for another. Hence it is the interpretation of an event with which people learn
to cope with.
3. Parson-Environment Fit Approach Robert Kahn emphazed that conflicting
expectations from the society creates stress for a person.
4. Psycho analytic Approach - Henry Leverson believes that Ego and self-image interact
within a person to create stress in him/her.

CAUSES OF STRESS
Internal Stimuli inner conflicts, perceptual conflicts , thresholds of stress, motivational
level
External stressors task demand, role demand, inter role conflicts, intra role conflicts,
interpersonal conflicts, physical demands

CONSEQUENCES OF STRESS
Performance and health affected
Individual Symptoms - Physiological symptoms, Psychological symptoms, Behavioral
symptoms
Organizational distress- participation problems, compensation awards

Managing Stress
Individual Level Organizational Level
Time management Job redesigning
Non competitive physical
exercise
Goal setting
Relaxation and Bio feedback Role negotiation
Development of social support
system
Organizational communication
Adjustment of Perception Employee wellness program
Learned Optimism Social support systems from
work place
Leisure time activities Organization culture
Diet
Opening Up