1.5 - About University

S TRESS HAS BOTH FINANCIAL AND HUMAN COSTSStress generates enormous financial and human costs. Studies in the United States indicate thatone-fifth of American professionals and managers are involved in the abuse of a wide range ofprescription and illegal drugs. American per capita consumption of physician-prescribedmood-altering drugs averages 80 tablets per year. It’s estimated that headaches and other formsof stress-related pain generate approximately $50 billion of business costs in terms of absenteeismand reduced productivity.S TRESS IS CONTAGIOUSAs a leader, you will regularly encounter people whose feelings are not especially pleasant, andwho harbor continuing undercurrents of fear, anger, and hostility. As a result, you may experiencelevels of anxiety that are related to feelings you have unknowingly picked up from others.A nonsolution is tuning out or becoming less sensitive to the emotional undercurrents of others.This would simply deaden your awareness of what is going on around you. Rather, you need tostay alert to subtle cues from other people. You need to become even more sensitive, constantlymonitoring your feelings and those of others in your organization. Then, whenever you startfeeling stress, you can ask yourself whether your feeling is a signal that something needs attention.Simultaneously, you can contribute to other peoples’ well-being by remaining alert andallowing them to pick up your feelings of calmness, emotional balance, patience, and optimism.H OW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL“We think much more about the use of our money, which is renewable,than we do about the use of our time, which is irreplaceable.”—Stephan Rechtschaffen, TIME SHIFTINGWEB WORKSHEETHere is a list of symptoms you are likely to encounter when you experience stress. As a firststep in determining your level of stress, rate the degree to which you experience each of thesesymptoms. You might also use this instrument to assess stress levels within your workgroup orteam. This could be used as a kick-off for a group discussion of stress.Stress symptomRating0 (not at all), 5 (very much)1. I am bothered by disturbances in my sleep.2. I frequently feel that my interpersonal relationships suffer from tension.3. I feel bothered by lapses in memory and concentration.4. I feel tense muscles or jitters in my body.5. I worry too much.6. I become immobilized.7. I can’t make up my mind quickly enough.8. I perspire excessively.SECTION 15 TOOLS FOR TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF 473