Chapter 7: Career Development and Work Stress

1
Chapter 7 Career Development and Work Stress

• November 2 7

2
Career

• Definition The evolving sequence of a persons
  work experience.
• Does anyone know what career path they want to
  follow?
• Has anyone set specific goals?

3
Choosing the Right Career Path

• Person-Job Fit
• Match of personal characteristics to aspects of
  job
• Talents, likes, dislikes
• Future of the Profession
• Professional vs. vocational
• Growth industries

4
Growth Areas

• Information technology
• Business and technology focuses
• Education and training
• Health care
• International business (not a sector but valuable
  skills)

5
The Career Path

• Developmental opportunities
• Set a path with specific goals
• Use as a guide but build flexibility into it
• Walker corporate strategy, project manager,
  resource provider, talent
• Job rotation

6
The job as a career step

• Organizational socialization
• Mentoring

7
Organizational Socialization

• Definition the process through which newcomers
  to an organization become full fledged members.
• What were some of your experiences/feelings on
  your first day of class? Job?
• How many classmates did you know the first day of
  class? Now?

8
Organizational SocializationThe steps

• Getting in
• The research
• Finding the right match pre-entry period
• Breaking in
• Orientation programs
• Settling in
• The metamorphosis

9
Discussion Question

• When would you consider the organizational
  socialization process to be complete?

10
Mentoring

• Definition The process in which a more
  experiences employee(mentor) advises, counsels
  the career of a new employee (protégé)
• Has anyone ever been a mentor? A protégé?

11
The Stages of Mentoring

• Initiation
• Cultivation
• Separation
• Redefinition (sometimes)

12
Are you stressed?
13
FACT

• Stress related problems cost companies 12
  billion per year.

14
The Warning Signs of Stress Quizhttp//www.umich.
edu/fasap/stresstips/64.html

• 1. Which one of these is a reaction to stress?
• a. Irritabilityb. A ringing in your earsc.
  Lack of creativityd. All of the above
• 2. Too much stress can result in memory loss.
• a. Trueb. False
• 3. Stress can be exhibited through which type of
  symptoms?
• a. Cognitive symptomsb. Physical symptomsc.
  Behavioral symptomsd. All of the above

15
The Warning Signs of Stress Quiz
http//www.umich.edu/fasap/stresstips/64.html

• 4. To really be a success, you need lobe
  stressed.
• a. Trueb. False
• 5. Because stress surrounds you everyday, there
  really isn't anything you can do about it.
• a. Trueb. False
• 6. Distress in your life can result in which of
  these?
• a. Sleeping soundly at nightb. Compulsive gum
  chewing c. Productivityd. All of the above

16
Stress

• Definition The pattern of emotional states,
  cognitions, and physiological reactions occurring
  in response to stressors (various factors in the
  external environment that induce stress among
  people exposed to them). (p. 210)
• Stress inducers
• Threatening situation
• Perceived inability to cope with potential
  dangers/demands

17
How to deal with stress

• Do more of what you do like to do, and less of
  what you dont want to do.
• Stern, Awakening Your Life Skills

18
Discussion Question 1

• What factors may inhibit a managers ability to
  forecast and properly handle potential stress
  levels within their respective organization?

19
The Work-related Causes

• Occupational demands
• Competing demands between work and home (work
  juggling)
• Role ambiguity
• Overload and underload
• Quantitative vs. qualitative
• Responsibility for others
• Lack of social support isolation
• Sexual harassment
• Unpleasant working conditions

20
The Non Work-related Causes

• Stressful life events
• Death of a spouse, divorce, jail term, death of a
  family member
• Hassles of daily life
• Money, traffic, household chores, taxi services
• Total life stress

21
The Effects of StressStress and Task Performance

• Was assumed that low levels of stress increased
  performance
• Now believe that any level of stress can have
  negative impact on performance
• Distracting
• Prolonged or repeated exposure to stress harmful
• Stress can lead to high levels of emotional
  arousal (choke)
• The Exception
• When stress is viewed as a challenge rather than
  a threat

22
The Effects of StressStress and Psychological
Well-Being

• Burnout A syndrome resulting from prolonged
  exposure to a combination of
• Physical exhaustion
• Emotional exhaustion
• Attitudinal exhaustion
• Lack of personal accomplishment

23
The Effects of StressStress and Health

• 50-70 of all forms of physical illness
  attributed to stress

24
Managing StressAt a personal level

• Diet and exercise
• Know your body and its limitations
• Find a natural balance
• Relaxation and meditation
• Identify a natural de-stressor
• Take the time
• Cognitive techniques
• How many of you worry too much? How many worry
  about things they cannot change?
• Awfulizing/catastrophizing

25
Managing StressAt an organizational level

• Family-supportive practices
• Referral services
• Dependent services
• Flexible work schedules
• Supervisor support
• Stress management programs
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
• Humour

26
Don't Worry, Be Natural!http//www.iuinfo.indiana
.edu/ocm/packages/holiday/stress.htm

• BE NATURAL The key to surviving the holiday
  season
• B -- Breathe deeply, it will help increase energy
  levels.E -- Exercise 20 minutes, three times a
  week -- and running from errand to errand doesn't
  count!N -- Nutrition Three well-balanced meals
  each day.A -- Attitude Negative attitudes are
  contagious and destructive. Try to see the glass
  half full.T -- Time management Set priorities
  and don't take on more than you can handle. U --
  Uniqueness Recognize and treasure your own
  uniqueness. Say 'no' when necessary.R --
  Relaxation Private time to read or listen to
  music -- a time not to focus on the next item to
  do.A -- Associations Maintain contact with
  nurturing support systems -- colleagues, friends,
  family.L -- Laughter Still the best medicine.