When stress manifests in the workplace, it impacts both productivity and the wellbeing of employees. As such, it’s crucial to be able to identify the signs, manage the environment and know when to either seek help for yourself or implement strategies for managing stress in the workplace.
Stress management courses are crucial for professionals. Why? Because stress is harmful to both physical and emotional health. What’s more, stress undermines the productivity and success of individuals and teams.
So, why does stress occur in the workplace? Generally, stress results from a conflict between job demands and the sense of control in execution. But stress is also caused by poor interpersonal relations in the workplace.
Stress Management for Professionals is a professional development course that will help you manage personal stress in the workplace and reduce stress in your colleagues and teams.
In this stress management course, you will discover several strategies for managing stress in the workplace. You’ll discover the signs, symptoms and causes of occupational stress, as well as how to reduce stress within a team.
Topics covered include strategies for managing stress in the workplace, and:
And more…
Occupational stress is the physical, mental and emotional reactions of workers who perceive that their work demands exceed their abilities or their resources (time, access to help or support) to do the work.
There are many strategies for managing stress in the workplace and many ways to identify stress. If you identify with the following signs and symptoms or recognise these occurring in a colleague, work-related stress could be the culprit.
The World Health Organisation reports that being respected and appreciated in the workplace is a fundamental human need. Further, research shows that many stressful experiences are linked to feeling offended (i.e., being excluded, ridiculed or engaged in conflicts). These negative experiences have far-reaching consequences for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in the workplace.
Conversely, feeling appreciated is an essential factor in motivation, satisfaction, health and wellbeing. Research reveals that appreciation and respect and how this is communicated are predictors of occupational health and wellbeing.
Recognition and reward systems in the workplace help reduce stress in the workplace and build positive regard.
Explore programs that can help reduce stress in the workplace, such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness or tai chi. Programs could be offered before or after work or during lunch breaks. Many mobile health and wellness providers will facilitate stress-reducing activities at the workplace.
Yoga and stress – You can fight stress and find serenity with regular yoga classes. In fact, yoga has been shown to enhance mood through a combination of breathing exercises and poses that have powerful physical and psychological benefits. Namaste!
Mindfulness – Mindfulness is the act of focusing on breathing and being in the moment. At a workplace, mindfulness can include confronting situations with compassion, openness and patience without judgement.
Meditation – Numerous studies show that meditation is a successful stress-management tool, and those who practice regularly can manage stress better. It’s about training the brain to be less reactive to stressors – whether that’s work, relationships, finances or the hellish commute to the office!
Tai Chi – this ancient Chinese tradition is based on martial arts and involves slow movements and deep breaths. It’s a proven technique to improve balance and cognition and reduce anxiety and depression.
Can your workplace encourage physical fitness? Exercise is a natural, potent anti-anxiety treatment. Better yet, it’s free! You don’t need a gym onsite to get employees to move more. Could you organise a weekly walk to work day – whether that’s leaving the car at home or getting off the bus early to clock up a few thousand steps before 9 am? After all, every bit of movement helps. Another motivator could be a weekly group fitness class for your colleagues. Can you source a fitness professional to facilitate a group class in the workplace or near work during lunch breaks?
Does your workplace offer support services for mental health and wellbeing? If so, ensure your colleagues or team members know how to seek support for stress or anxiety. If not, don’t worry as there are many national support services that you can promote in your workplaces, such as Headspace, Beyond Blue and Lifeline. You can contact these organisations for promotional materials such as banners, posters and information leaflets to put in your workspace.
When employees feel valued, they thrive. Many professional and personal development courses help combat stress and teach coping strategies, such as anger management, motivation theory, building self-esteem and assertiveness skills, mental health awareness and communicating with confidence courses.
Learning is a lifelong commitment – and achievement makes people feel more in control. If you’d like to enrol yourself or a colleague in one of our online courses, contact one of our friendly support staff today for more information.
Gain the knowledge and power to implement strategies for managing stress in the workplace with a stress management course, such as the Certificate of Stress Management for Professionals.
Anger management training can help you (or your clients) reduce the destructive nature of unhealthy anger. People often assume, incorrectly, that all anger is bad, but this isn’t the case. Anger is a normal and healthy emotion. It’s okay to feel angry sometimes. Anger can be a positive force for change. Think of all the social injustices that have been rectified through people becoming angry.
However, when anger interferes with your job, relationships or wellbeing, it’s time to seek help. Anger and aggression are different – there are many healthy ways to deal with anger without resorting to threats and violence.
Our Anger Management program is an online course that will help you learn to identify anger triggers and provide coping and planning techniques to help you manage your anger better.
You will also discover a range of proven tools, self-talk techniques and coping strategies for dealing with situations where anger can escalate.
This anger management course is beneficial for those who manage people in a work or recreational setting to gain insight into how to be assertive and sensitive to others’ emotions.
This program is also ideal for those requiring an anger management certificate to meet court or other official requirements; please check with your legal advisor.
Outcomes achieved by undertaking anger management courses include:
Watson,Gympie, QLD |Anger Management | November 2020
“I found completing this course a smooth experience the course was really easy to understand and helped me learn more insight into managing anger.”
A.Hladni, Frankston VIC | Anger Management
“Australian online courses are fantastic! I would highly recommend.”
J.Webb, Five Docks, NSW | Anger Management
“I found the Certificate of Anger Management course easy to achieve … and now understand how anger works for different people … excellent course!”
Gourlay, Eildon VIC | Anger Management
“Very user friendly. I initially had a problem with logging in; however, the call centre was more than helpful in getting me set up. I wouldn’t hesitate to use Australian Online Courses in the future.”
Relationships Australia helps bust a few common anger myths!
Evidence from research studies shows that you can’t blame your anger on Grandpa John! In fact, the studies show that people are not born with a set way of expressing anger but that it is a learned behaviour. So, it’s not fixed and learning to express anger differently can be done!
Anger does not need to be expressed through aggression. Anger management can help de-escalate angry feelings so that it doesn’t lead to aggressive outbursts or violence.
Don’t confuse assertiveness with aggression. Assertive people can meet their own needs while still respecting the rights of others. Communicating calmly and respectfully is more likely to gain cooperation from others.
If you think screaming into a pillow or punching a boxing bag is therapeutic and a good way to release anger, think again! Research studies show people who vent their anger in this way actually get better at being angry. So, venting anger in aggressive ways begets more aggressive behaviour. A run, a relaxing bath or any activity that calms you down will be a much better way to deal with anger.
Anger is a universal emotion, and we all feel annoyed, frustrated or even outraged from time to time. The type of anger we use to express our feelings can also vary depending on our mood and the circumstances. But anger is neither good nor bad – it is simply an emotion. Clarifying different types of anger and learning the strategies to manage them – particularly by taking anger management courses – is the key to controlling emotions and subsequent behaviours.
This is the most constructive type of anger in that feelings of frustration or rage can act as a catalyst for positive change. Rather than internalising feelings, avoiding confrontation or resorting to physical or verbal outbursts, anger is expressed in ways that don’t cause destruction or distress. This ‘assertive anger’ can help individuals address injustice, overcome fear and achieve their desired life outcomes. It’s a powerful motivator!
This type of anger is expressed physically and usually aggressively. It might involve throwing or breaking things or even physically attacking the object of an individual’s rage. It can be highly unpredictable and often has negative interpersonal and legal consequences. Management strategies include individuals taking a moment to calm down, removing themselves from the situation and using self-talk techniques to regain control of their emotions.
This is an ongoing frustration with circumstances, anger towards oneself or a general resentment of other people. Because of its prolonged nature, it can have profoundly negative effects on one’s health and wellbeing. To manage it, individuals should spend some time on reflection and identify the source of their resentment. It can also involve forgiveness – which is a powerful process that can help people resolve lingering frustration and hurt.
This type of anger is indignant and usually a reaction to someone else’s shortcomings or perceived injustice. It assumes a morally superior stance and may alienate potential allies by invalidating differences of opinion. Management strategies include individuals being open-minded about different situations because they are rarely as simple as they seem! Other people’s perspectives can also give valuable insights into some of life’s challenges.
This is a form of anger which occurs when individuals feel a situation is beyond their control. This results in feelings of frustration and hopelessness and is common when people take on too much responsibility, or unexpected events have reduced their capacity to cope. To manage it, individuals should reach out to others for support. By alleviating potential sources of stress, emotional and behavioural control may be achieved.
This is an ‘avoidant’ type of anger, where individuals try to evade confrontation and may deny feelings of fury or frustration. It can be expressed as silence, mockery or sarcasm, and often people who express anger in this way aren’t even aware they are being aggressive. Management techniques include individuals learning to assertively communicate and confidently face their fears to meet their personal and professional needs.
One of the most common types of anger is an instinctual response to being attacked or confronted by someone else. It can be deliberate and motivated by revenge for a perceived wrong and often intimidates others by asserting control over an outcome or situation. To manage it, individuals should pause and think before they act. By choosing to diffuse the conflict, they can avoid the often long-term consequences of revenge.
This type of anger is shame-based. People who express this type of anger often feel unworthy, humiliated or hopeless. By internalising feelings, anger can be expressed by self-harm, substance abuse, eating disorders or negative self-talk. Management strategies include cognitive reframing techniques and mindful meditation, which can help centre an individual in the present and help them deal with impulse-related behaviours.
Verbal anger can be a form of psychological or emotional abuse that deeply hurts an individual’s target. People may express this anger in the form of furious threats, ridicule, sarcasm or intense criticism or blame. This often results in the individual feeling ashamed and apologetic afterwards. To manage it, individuals should take a breath before they speak and delay the impulse to lash out.
This type of anger often comes out of nowhere. People who are quick to get upset by annoyances often experience volatile anger. It can be incredibly destructive because even though individuals calm down just as quickly if left unchecked, it may eventually lead to more violent verbal or physical behaviour. Management strategies include identifying the signs and symptoms that precede an outburst and using relaxation techniques to stop their anger from escalating.
Do you or a client need help to manage unhealthy anger? Learn a range of valuable anger management techniques that will improve relationships and reduce stress with our Anger Management program.
