Stress management

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

Table of Contents.

Serial

Page Contents

No.

No.

1.

Executive summary

1

2.

Introduction to Stress management

2

3.

Categories of Stress

4

4.

Personal Stress

13

5.

Organizational Stress

20

6.

Godrej company profile

26

Pre – stress and modern stress management 7.

28 techniques

8.

Conclusion

33

9.

Bibliography

34

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY. ONLY recently has stress been seen as a contributory factor to the productivity and health costs of companies and countries. As studies of stress-related illnesses and deaths show, stress imposes a high cost on individual health and well-being as well as

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN organizational productivity. There are books now, which review the sources and outcomes of job-related stress, the methods used to assess levels and consequences of occupational stress and strategies to confront stress and its associated problems. A visit to Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (Vikhroli) was of great help in my project. Godrej is one of the companies that are using various “Stress Management” methods in their organization. Here I met Mr. Sameer Bharoik, The Leadership and Organization Effectiveness Staff Consultant, HR Department, Godrej, who is one of the committee members of their very effective stress management system. He told me about the stress management system they were using in Godrej. I was also told about their need to adopt the modern day “Stress Management” methods rather than the old one, what are the advantages the disadvantages etc. A very friendly and helpful man by nature, Mr. Sameer helped me a lot to understand how the “Stress Management” methods are meant to work, what are the practical difficulties in the implementation and how they have managed to overcome these difficulties successfully.

What is Stress? Stress is a complex phenomenon. It has been defined in many ways, but simply put; it is the wear and tear of everyday life.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN In everyday’s life people are subjected to a wide range of pressures. Similarly there are also a wide range of resources and strategies for coping with pressure. Sometimes people cope well and will not feel that the pressure is having any adverse effect upon them. At other times they will have difficulty in dealing with the situation and that is when we may use the term "stress". In reality, any situation that puts pressure is technically "stressful". Stress is not necessarily unpleasant or harmful. When people are able to cope satisfactorily with the stress and find it to be positive in its effect, they tend to use other words - such as "stimulation" or "challenge". In this regard a simple but accurate definition of stress is: "Stress occurs when the pressures upon us exceed our resources to cope with those pressures." It follows, therefore, that we can attempt to tackle stress either by reducing the pressures or by increasing our coping resources - or, indeed, a combination of both strategies. The problem is that different people find quite different situations and circumstances to be stressful. At the extremes, a situation which one person experiences as positive and stimulating will cause another person acute distress. “The Changing Times model” is one of the few to recognize this fact. It is also one of the few, and widely known and successfully implemented programs, which

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN has been specifically designed to avoid both psychological jargon and an unhelpful emphasis on medical models of stress. Some people who suffer from mental disorders may be more susceptible to stress. Equally, prolonged or acute exposure to excessive stress can lead to illnesses. For the great majority of people, however, stress is a perfectly normal and natural state that may be unpleasant or disabling but which can be reduced without recourse to medicines or therapy. All people need to do is develop a better understanding of the causes and effects of our stress. The Changing Times model is designed to help people do just that. With that understanding everybody will be much better equipped to reduce the pressures which cause stress and/or increase our resources for coping with those pressures.

Categories of Stress Stress can be broadly classified in the following categories: •

Acute stress is what most people identify as stress. It makes itself felt through tension headaches, emotional upsets, gastrointestinal disturbances, feelings of

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN agitation and pressure. It's easily treatable and can be brought under control in six to eight weeks. •

Episodic acute stress is more serious and can lead to migraines, hypertension, stroke, heart attack, anxiety, depression, serious gastrointestinal distress. It's quite treatable, but it takes general life style readjustments, four to six months, and often requires professional help.

•

Chronic stress is the most serious of all. It's the stress that never ends. It grinds us down until our resistance is gone. Serious systemic illness such as diabetes, decreased immunocompetence, perhaps cancer is its hallmark. It can be treated, even reversed, but it takes time - sometimes two to three years-and often requires professional help.

•

Traumatic stress is the result of massive acute stress, the effects of which can reverberate through our systems for years. Post traumatic stress disorder is treatable and reversible and usually requires professional aid.

There are many different definitions but stress can be broadly defined as an individual’s perceived inability to cope with the demands placed on them. The common expression for stress is ‘tension’ One is said to be tense, when there is some anxiety, some fear of whether the desirable things may happen, whether something may go wrong, etc. It is a state of discomfort felt in the mind and experienced by the body. When there is tension, the body may become weak.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN In management literature, ‘Stress’ is defined as a response of the human body to a felt need. When one is hungry and there is an urge to eat food, the body is in a state of stress, which disappears when the need is fulfilled. This definition suggests that stress is a desirable condition, making one move towards fulfillment of needs. This is partly true. Stress occurs also when the need arises out of fear and the urge is to run and escape. This may sometimes, be not possible. In that case, there is no movement, the need remains unfulfilled and the stress condition does not disappear. Stress is identified as of two kinds. One is called EuStress, which is the condition in which there is drive and effort to fulfill the needs. Motivation is high. Achievement is seen as possible. The situation is challenging. Stress disappears when the need is fulfilled. There is success. The other is DiStress, which is the condition when there is a sense of helplessness in being able to achieve. The feeling is of frustration. There is no success. May be, there is no attempt even, because success is seen as impossible. The stress condition remains. If one were to chart the level of stress and the level of effort put in to work, it would be an inverted parabola. EuStress would be in the ascending left side of the parabola. The challenge would be maximum at the hump. The latter half on the right side represents Distress. The problems of stress are caused by Distress, not by EuStress. EuStress is necessary for the person to be fully alert, for all his faculties to come into play to face the situation. For example, a goalkeeper in football or hockey will be totally relaxed when the ball is at the other end of the ground, but becomes extremely alert as the ball moved towards him. His body stiffens, the eyes begin to bulge,

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN focusing on the ball and the movement of the players, picking up the slightest of movements and every nerve and muscle ready to respond to those movements. That is EuStress, without which the goalkeeper cannot be at his best. So also, the batsman in cricket experiences EuStress when the bowler is on the run, and by the tennis player when the ball is about to be served at the other end. Certain Statistics that support common belief about stress: Statistics from a recent global stress research study show that increased stress is felt worldwide,

and

stress

affects

women

differently

than

men:

A recent Roper Starch Worldwide survey of 30,000 people between the ages of 13 and 65 in 30 countries showed: •

Women who work full-time and have children under the age of 13 report the greatest stress worldwide

•

Nearly one in four mothers who work full-time and have children under 13 feel stress almost every day

•

Globally, 23% of women executives and professionals, and 19% of their male peers, say they feel "super-stressed"

Stress & its Characteristics Stress is physical

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN When the goalkeeper or the batsman or the tennis player experiences Eustress, there are changes in the physical system. The muscles become tense. The eyes become sharper. When one is under severe distress, as in the case of Arjuna in Kurukshetra, the person sweats, the body becomes weak and loses strength. Study of stress shows that the response is the same whether it is Eustress or Distress, except that the degree varies. The response is called the Fight or Flight response. When one senses danger, one is tempted to either stand or fight to ward off the danger or run away – Flight. The body conditions itself for either event, automatically, causing changes in the normal secretions of hormones and other chemicals, withdrawing from activities that are less important and diverting to activities that should have higher priority in that situation.. Food is less important. The muscles need more energy and therefore the blood carries substances to the muscles, diverting them from the stomach. More oxygen than normal is required. Therefore, the breathing becomes faster, the heartbeat rate increases, and the blood vessels dilate to carry more oxygen. The liver releases more stored energy. The eyes and ears become more acutely sensitive to the sensations from outside. The body is programmed to reverse these changes, and revert to normal, when the threat disappears. If however, one remains in a continuous state of stress, without becoming normal, the changed conditions tend to remain permanent, like a rubber band loses its elasticity when held extended for a long time. These abnormal conditions manifest as diseases and one suffers from high blood pressure, cardiac disorders, peptic ulcers, insomnia, constipation, fatigue, colitis, kidney problems, etc. Behaviorally, they

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN lead to absenteeism, alcoholism, use of drugs, marital disharmony and so on, which are both organizationally and socially, undesirable. Numerous common health problems are linked to stress: •

The leading six causes of death in worldwide: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide originate from stress.

•

Immune response and deficiency

•

Memory loss

•

Obesity

Stress is psychological Stress is experienced when one perceives a threat and the fight or flight response is called for. This perception is an interpretation that one makes within oneself, of the external factors. When one sees a dog on the street baring its teeth, one may either get frightened or remain calm. Both fright and calmness are psychological reactions. The choice is one’s own and is not dictated by the dog. This choice is made, largely unconsciously, on the basis of one’s beliefs about dogs in general, what one has heard about rabies being caused by dog bites, what one sees about the characteristics of the dog in question at that time, one’s predilections towards animals, and so on. When one becomes anxious in a situation, the situation does not create any anxiety. What one thinks about the situation creates the anxiety. If one is confident of tackling the situation, there is no anxiety. Therefore, the level of stress is caused by one’s own

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN perception of one’s capability to cope with the situation. Thus, stress is a psychological response, depending upon one’s level of fear, confidence, anxiety, anger, hurt, etc. The physical response is an automatic sequel to one’s psychological condition. The physical changes depend on the extent of fear or confidence etc. Therefore, the management of stress essentially is in the control one has on one’s emotions. Stressors Stress is not caused by any external factor. Oneself creates it, by the way one thinks about the external factors. Yet there are situations, in which most people tend to get stressed. These are called stressors. In personal life, death of a close relative is a stressor. An important test in life, like a final examination; a transfer of residence; separation due to marriage, divorce or change of job; difficult financial demands; serious illness; likelihood of unpleasant secrets becoming revealed; are common stressors. Having to welcome and entertain important visitors or having to deliver a speech for the first time, also cause considerable stress. At work, the following may be stressors. •

Needs not met. These could be needs for power, for fulfillment, for use of knowledge

•

Not being included by others as part of a group you want to belong to

•

Not being recognized or valued for one’s competence

•

Feeling that one is not adequate for the task, particularly when compared to some one else - 10 -

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN •

Being denied what is due (rewards, work)

•

Monotony or boredom

•

Not having enough freedom at work, being closely supervised

•

Inequity in rewards, assignments

•

Very little opportunity for growth

•

Too much of work, overload

•

Too little work, boredom

•

Inadequate resources to do the assigned work, creating possibilities of failures

•

Conflict in values at work, being required to do what one does not like to do

•

Too many and conflicting demands at work from the role set

•

Responsibilities not clear, ambiguity on what is expected

•

Understanding, unpredictable, temperamental boss

•

New unfamiliar work

•

Being blamed

On close analysis, it will be found that all of the above situations are, in some way or other, causing perceptions of possible failure at work or non-recognition and consequent loss of self-esteem.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN The Following are two types of stress patterns that exist in daily life:

Figure

1

-

The

Stress

Patterns

The Healthy Pattern recognizes that we can help our bodies to cope with the stress adjustment process by applying a positive strategy, such as leisure, relaxation, a vacation/trip,

exercise

and

others.

This

restores

a

healthy

stress

level.

The Crisis Pattern develops when we fail to recognize the signals that the body sends and therefore we continue to stress ourselves until eventually we drop and enter a deep negative state (crisis) and then physical and/or psychological breakdown.

Level of stress

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN There are four basic levels of stress symptoms. The first is the normal initial response and is characterized by increased heart beat rates, increased blood pressure, dilation of pupils, sweat in palms and reduced activity in the stomach. At the second level, there is more irritability, stuttering and stammering, difficulty in concentrating, restlessness, lack of appetite and tendency to increased smoking or drinking for those so habituated. At the third level, there would be more headaches, stomach aches, diarrhoea, sweating, insomnia, depression etc. The fourth level would be characterised by ulcers, stroke, alcoholism, drug addiction, psychosis etc. Organization stress is a state or condition indicated by the degree of discrepancy between organizational demands and organizational capacity" (Haas & Drabek 1973). A disaster can act as a catalyst for organization stress, and subsequent worker stress. The book written by the above-mentioned people reviews the literature relating to the sociological concept of organization stress, outlining the nature of the condition and its theoretical causes within the disaster setting. Following a discussion of the concept of organization stress the book discusses organizational perception of stress, organization coping mechanisms for disaster impact, and organizational adaptation to disasterinduced stress.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

PERSONEL STRESS Causes of personal stress: •

Growing psychological demands productivity demands increase and work longer hours.

•

The need to gather and apply growing amounts of information.

•

Job insecurity

•

Demographic changes such as aging workers, female participation in the workforce, and the integration of a growing population of ethnic and racial minorities into the workplace

•

The need for both men and women to balance obligations between work and family as women enter the workforce worldwide.

How

Can

stress

be

eliminated

from

an

individual’s

life?

As it is seen, positive stress adds anticipation and excitement to life, and everybody thrive’s under a certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions, confrontations, and even frustrations and sorrows add depth and enrichment to people’s lives. One’s goal should not be to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us. Insufficient stress acts as a depressant and may leave a person feeling bored or dejected; on the other hand, excessive stress may leave us feeling "tied up in knots." What needs to be done is to find the optimal level of stress which will individually motivate but not overwhelm everyone.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN How Can the optimal level of stress be identified by an individual? There is no single level of stress that is optimal for all people. Every individual has unique requirements. As such, what is distressing to one may be a joy to another. And even when it is agreed that a particular event is distressing, different individuals are likely to differ in their physiological and psychological responses to it. The person who loves to arbitrate disputes and moves from job site to job site would be stressed in a job, which was stable and routine, whereas the person who thrives under stable conditions would very likely be stressed on a job where duties were highly varied. Also, personal stress requirements and the amount which a person can tolerate before he/she becomes distressed changes with his/her ages. It has been found that most illness is related to unrelieved stress. If somebody is experiencing stress symptoms, that person has gone beyond the optimal stress level; that person needs to reduce the stress in his/her life and/or improve his/her ability to manage it. How

Can

an

individual

manage

Stress

Better?

Identifying unrelieved stress and being aware of its effect on our lives is not sufficient for reducing its harmful effects. Just as there are many sources of stress, there are many possibilities for its management. However, all require work toward change: changing the source of stress and/or changing our reaction to it. How does one proceed? 1. Become aware of your stressors and your emotional and physical reactions. Notice your distress. Don't ignore it. Don't gloss over the problems.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Determine what events distress you. What are you telling yourself about meaning of these events? Determine how your body responds to the stress. Do you become nervous or physically upset? If so, in what specific ways? 2. Recognize what you can change. Can you change your stressors by avoiding or eliminating them completely? Can you reduce their intensity (manage them over a period of time instead of on a daily or weekly basis)? Can you shorten your exposure to stress (take a break, leave the physical premises)? Can you devote the time and energy necessary to making a change (goal setting, time management techniques, and delayed gratification strategies may be helpful here)? 3. Reduce the intensity of your emotional reactions to stress. The stress reaction is triggered by your perception of danger...physical danger and/or emotional danger. Are you viewing your stressors in exaggerated terms and/or

taking

a

difficult

situation

and

making

it

a

disaster?

Are you expecting to please everyone? Are you overreacting and viewing things as absolutely critical and urgent? Do you feel you must always prevail in every situation?

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Work at adopting more moderate views; try to see the stress as something you can cope with rather than something that overpowers you. Try to temper your excess emotions. Put the situation in perspective. Do not labor on the negative aspects and the "what if's." 4. Learn to moderate your physical reactions to stress. Slow, deep breathing will bring your heart rate and respiration back to normal. Relaxation techniques can reduce muscle tension. Electronic biofeedback can help you gain voluntary control over such things as muscle tension, heart rate, and

blood

pressure.

Medications, when prescribed by a physician, can help in the short term in moderating your physical reactions. However, they alone are not the answer. Learning to moderate these reactions on your own is a preferable long-term solution. 5. Build your physical reserves. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness three to four times a week (moderate, prolonged rhythmic exercise is best, such as walking, swimming, cycling, or jogging). Eat well-balanced, nutritious meals. Maintain your ideal weight. Avoid nicotine, excessive caffeine, and other stimulants.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Mix leisure with work. Take breaks and get away when you can. Get enough sleep. Be as consistent with your sleep schedule as possible. 6. Maintain your emotional reserves. Develop some mutually supportive friendships/relationships. Pursue realistic goals which are meaningful to you, rather than goals others have Expect

for

you

some

that frustrations,

you

do

failures,

not and

share. sorrows.

Always be kind and gentle with yourself -- be a friend to yourself. To manage the stress in your life, experts offer several strategies: •

Four types of regular exercise are recommended.

•

Meditation, imagery or breathing exercises allow an individual to relax mentally and physically.

•

Various massage techniques can promote relaxation, improve circulation and relieve tension. Massages benefit both emotional and physical health.

•

Commit to making physical exercise a part of your daily routine, find a noncompetitive partner, have fun and change your routine to keep it interesting.

•

Stress management consultant Loretta LaRouche recommends taking time to find humor in every day life. One of her suggestions is to start a humor box. Fill

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN it with silly guises, cartoons, funny stories and/or favorite humorous videos. Go to this box when you are feeling stressed. •

Practicing healthy eating habits can reduce stress. Plan meals based on USDA’s Food Pyramid.

•

Maintain balance: find time for work and play.

Stress is a fact of life. The best way to confront this fact is through management.

ORGANISATIONAL STRESS

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN There is a considerable cost to people, in both human and financial terms, in working in an unhealthy stressful environment. It is therefore in the interest of all leaders and managers to create healthy workplaces. What is commonly referred to as 'organizational stress' may be said to be caused by a dysfunctional culture. Where members of an organization share a negative view of that organization, they are not likely to be motivated to perform well. On the contrary, they may feel that work is not worthwhile and that there is little point in pursuing personal or organizational objectives or desires. The result may be a serious loss of self-esteem and when this condition prevails this will be experienced as stress. Some of the consequences of stress have been identified as: Reduced productivity •

Lack of creativity

•

Job dissatisfaction

•

Increased sick leave

•

Premature retirement

•

Absenteeism

•

Accidents

•

Organizational breakdown

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN There are many ways in which organizational culture will manifest itself in a dysfunctional way. For example, the unhelpful and dysfunctional division between 'us' and ‘them’, which may be perpetuated, by both senior managers and those at other levels of an organization in a collusive manner. A division, which results in a lack of proper communication and a sort of 'blaming' culture. Addressing these matters is difficult work, work that cannot be adequately dealt with by managers or internal consultants because they are part of the culture; part of the hierarchy, and subject to the authority structure of the organization. However, this is not the total extent of the needs regarding organizational stress. There is also a need for a Stress Management Strategy that through various approaches will, in its entirety, provide for the needs of the organization.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN The Stress responsibility Table

Level Aims

Responsibility

1

Treat casualties

Occupational Health Professionals

2

Detect other cases

Managers/Occupational Health Professionals

3

Increase awareness

Managers, Training, Occupational Health

4

Teach Skills

Training, Occupational Health

5

Improve Culture

Senior Management Team

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Such a strategy would address the following sort of issues: The first four actions are as essential as the last. Internal staff that has the knowledge, skills can develop all these and ability to ensure that what is provided is as good as anywhere else. There may be benefit from employing outside assistance to consult to the process but basically the experts in the field are in the organization. The real point is that this sort of strategy should be seen as a total package. Without addressing the issue of culture the organization will not achieve the desired effective activities in the areas identified at 1 - 4 above. Equally, it could be ensured that the organization had a wonderful culture but without the other activities there would be no service available to members of the organization. Managing Stress Stress cannot be avoided. It should not be avoided. Without stress, there will be no attempt to try the difficult. One will give up much too easily. One will not succeed in doing even what one is easily capable of, because even the normal faculties will not come into play - like the goalkeeper, if he remained relaxed even at the last minute. There are two aspects to take care of in managing stress. One is that one should not develop stress to the point that one becomes non-functional like Arjuna laying down his arms. The second is to try to get back to normal as quickly as one can and not continue to be in a state of stress for too long. The former is achieved essentially by an attitude that is developed by rational thoughts. The first is to realize that one’s perceptions often distort the reality. The situation may - 23 -

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN not be as bad as it may seem to be. The second is to understand that a failure is not an unmitigated disaster. It is not possible to succeed all the time. It is not even necessary to succeed all the time. One failed effort does not mean that the person is no good. Nobody has succeeded without many losses. Even World champions sometimes lose a first round match to an unseeded player. Marconi and Thomas Alva Edison succeeded in their inventions after many attempts that failed. They saw failures as opportunities to learn. The third is to recognize that worry and anxiety will not modify the situation, but will only disturb one’s peace of mind and health. If one watches passengers at airports and railway stations, one will find how some of them remain quite relaxed and even sleeping while others are continuously making enquiries from officials about extent and causes of delays. Such constant enquiries only irritate, but do not expedite solutions. They add to stress of self and of others. Another very valid concept is what is postulate in the Gita. You can only do. The results are not in your hands. The results, called failures or successes are in the future. One does not have control on the future. One can acquire some control on the present and that is what one does. Also the success or failure does not depend only on what one does. Many other factors impinge. Therefore, the Gita proposes, do your duty and do not worry about what the consequences or fruits may be. Only thoughts about the possible desirability of the fruits cause anxieties. Mother Teresa had expressed the same thought, when she is reported to have said to the industrialist Mr. J.R.D.Tata,

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN “Why are you worrying about poverty? Your work is to open more industries, give more employment to people and leave the rest to God.” A situation that causes stress is a problem situation. The solution needs generating managerial options. People lose tempers and abuse officials as a result of stress. None of these solve the problems that may exist. Problem-solving needs calm, clear, analytical thinking. Clarity of thought and analysis improves with EuStress and deteriorates with DiStress. Managerial alternatives and options will be seen when one ‘is concerned’ with the matter, not when one is ‘anxious’. Awareness that nothing will be perfect and that anything that can go wrong will go wrong, helps to cope with the stress situations. People who demand of them Excellence always, are likely to develop high stress. Perfection is not necessary. It may also not be possible. Satisfying is often the only available option. At work one must learn to delegate. Many people believe that they alone can do certain tasks. The golden rule is to make this statement invalid as quickly as possible. Stress is only one reason for doing so. The positive outcomes are many. As one rises in the hierarchy, it would be impossible to do all the jobs that have to be done. One needs to pass on to others. Time spent in making this happen, is good investment for the future. Getting back to normal is relatively easy. One only has to get one’s mind into a condition in which there is no stress. Any pleasant activity will make this possible. Hobbies help. The practice of Yoga is excellent to relax one’s body and mind. Stress is relieved when one can share one’s thoughts and feelings with someone else. Good

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN tunes and ragas, like in bhajans and ghazals, have the capacity to soothe one’s nerves, even if one is not listening. Organizational Stress Management Organizational Stress Management aims at preventing and reducing stress for both the individual employee and the organization or company. The Training Package offers you eight detailed sessions for stress management training groups in your workplace. These include eight relaxation exercises on audio cassette tapes, together with training in relaxation, breathing and cognitive-behavioral techniques. We also provide practical training in the management of many workplace stressors. The Stress Management sessions provide employees with the opportunity to tackle major stressors using techniques from Problem Solving Therapy. We also provide research notes with each session giving you in-depth background information on the problems of work-pace stress, together with step-by-step presentations of related therapies of particular value in the treatment of stress at work.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

About Godrej Everyday, every Indian encounters the ‘Godrej’ name sometime somewhere. A person may begin the day bathing with a Godrej soap, shaving with a Godrej shaving cream, storing clothes in a Godrej Storewell cupboard, cooking food in a Godrej cooking oil and preserving it in a Godrej refrigerator. Money and valuables are kept in a Godrej safe, work is done on a Godrej computer or typewriter while sitting on a Godrej chair and drinking a Godrej fruit drink. Yet few know about the indomitable spirit of the man responsible for making Godrej a household name - Ardeshir Godrej., a pioneer who produced quality products and captured markets. Innovation has been the key. It is this spirit that has built Godrej and carried it for a hundred years. Taking it into diverse industries ranging from cupboards to soaps, hair dyes to edible oils, and packaged foods to refrigerators. In recent years several partnerships have been formed with international giants like General Electric, - 27 -

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Pillsbury, Fiskars and Sara Lee, bringing Godrej membership in the Global village that will carry it forward into the 21st century. Godrej has always been a crusader for a better world with programs that benefit endangered forests, wild life and mangroves. Every year the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation dedicates funds towards promoting education, housing, social upliftment, conservation, population management and relief of natural calamities. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd.(GCPL) is a major player in the Indian FMCG market with leadership in personal, hair, household and fabric care segments. The company employs 950 people and has three state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities at Malanpur (M.P.) Guwahati (Assam) and Silvassa (U.T.). Their main focus is on providing their customers with innovative, value for money solutions for meeting their daily needs and improving the quality of their life. This is achieved through the brands the company markets. We are among the largest marketer of toilet soaps in the country with leading brands such as CINTHOL, FAIRGLOW, and GODREJ NO 1. Their FAIRGLOW brand, India's first Fairness soap, has created marketing history as one of the most successful innovations. They are the leader in the hair color category in India and have a vast product range from COLOURSOFT LIQUID HAIR COLOURS; GODREJ LIQUID & POWDER HAIR DYES to GODREJ KESH KALA OIL based Hair Dyes. Their Liquid Detergent brand EZEE is the market leader in its category. They are also the preferred supplier for contract manufacturing of toilet soaps by some of the most well known brands in the country.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN They are supported in their endeavor by a state-of-the-art Research Centre based in Mumbai. Their quality products have been received very well in the international market and they are present in many countries across the world.

The “Pre –Stress Managed” Godrej: Job-related stress is particularly likely to become chronic because it is such a large part of daily life. And, thus stress in turn was reducing worker effectiveness by impairing concentration, causing sleeplessness, and increasing the risk for illness, back problems, accidents, and lost time. It was leading to harassment or even violence while on the job in some cases. At its most extreme, stress that places such a burden on the heart and circulation may be fatal. The stress problems were affecting the overall working of the organization. Stressed employees were not able to give their 100% to the organization and their interest in office work was also depleting. The company could not afford this since its toughest competitor HLL (Hindustan Lever Ltd.) was catching up with it. The management was also getting news about employee dissatisfaction, thanks mainly to the internal grapevine.

Traditional Stress Management Techniques:As quoted by Mr.Bharoik, previously, Godrej did not have prominent Stress Management Techniques in place. But, recently after the results of the “Employee

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN Stress Survey”, conducted by the HR department of the organization were printed in the company’s own periodical, the top level management seriously considered doing something about employee stress problems.

Brief Results of the “Employee Stress Survey”: First, no single method is uniformly successful: a combination of

•

approaches is generally most effective. •

Second, what works for one person does not necessarily work for someone else.

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Third, stress can be positive as well as negative. Appropriate and controllable stress provides interest and excitement and motivates the individual to greater achievement, while a lack of stress may lead to boredom and depression.

•

Finally, stress may play a part in making people vulnerable to illness. A physician or psychologist should be consulted if there are any indications of accompanying medical or psychological conditions, such as cardiac symptoms, significant pain, anxiety, or depression.

Other Observations: A healthy lifestyle is an essential companion to any stress-reduction program. General health and stress resistance can be enhanced by a regular exercise, a diet rich in a variety of whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, and by avoiding excessive alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. Exercise in combination with stress management techniques is extremely important. Stress itself poses significantly less danger to overall health in the - 30 -

STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN physically active individual. The heart and circulation are able to work harder for longer stretches of time, and the muscles, ligaments, bones, and joints become stronger and more flexible.

Cognitive-behavioral methods are the most

effective ways to reduce stress. They include identifying sources of stress, restructuring priorities, changing one's response to stress, and finding methods for managing and reducing stress. This approach may be particularly helpful when the source of stress is Chronic pain or other chronic diseases.

Suggestions to employees: •

Establish or reinforce a network of friends at work and at home.

•

Restructure priorities and eliminate unnecessary tasks.

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Learn to focus on positive outcomes.

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If the job is unendurable, plan and execute a career change. Send out resumes or work on transfers within the company.

Modern Organizational Stress management Techniques:The organization has now found out what was missing in employee welfare. Now stress surveys are being conducted every month to see what kind of stress does a lower level employee undergo? Other than the normal measures the organization conducts yoga sessions twice a week for its employees for relaxation purposes.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

Measures taken to improve the situation: A stress management company was hired to look into the matter and suggest and implement the best remedial measures possible, in conjunction with the company’s Human Resources Department.

The stress management company thought it was best to conduct a course and the following are some of its fine points: •

Participants meet weekly for eight 90-minute classes.

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The company's human resources department and the availability of the PPSM staff will determine course schedule.

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Preliminary meetings with the company's human resource department, managers and employees to provide information to tailor the program to best meet the corporate needs.

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Up to four 60-minute introductory lectures, or as requested, to describe the program to potential participants are conducted.

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All class materials are provided including two textbooks, additional reading materials, customized study manuals, and tailored audio cassettes developed to meet the company's identified needs.

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The objective outcomes of significance to employee satisfaction and performance are measured by developing pre & post training assessments in partnership with the company’s Human Resources Department.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

Benefits: •

Happier and healthier staff means better performance and increased efficiency and productivity.

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Drastically reduced stress-related staff problems

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Better communication with customers, co-workers, managers, family members and friends

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Decreased staff absenteeism and sickness

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Higher morale amongst staff

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Unique and excellent team building environment

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Reduce stress caused by repetitive tasks and shift work

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Reduced staff turnover and improved motivation

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Increased job satisfaction, creativity and capacity.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

CONCLUSION

The Future of “Stress Management” is very bright. More and more companies today are opting for stress management to optimize employee performance. Companies today have realized that keeping their employees happy and free of stress motivates the employee to give more than a 100% to the organization. All major companies in the country as well as abroad are implementing stress management measures to get the best out of their employees and the organization. As awareness among different companies for managing stress has increased considerably, so have different stress management techniques. While some companies prefer to implement the traditional stress management techniques, some others have opted for the modern techniques to suit their needs. Thus, it can be safely stated that “Stress Management” has become one of the most critical factors in an organization’s working today and it will gain more important as the market becomes more and more competitive.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN

BIBLIOGRAPHY:-

SOURCES Books: 1. Don’t sweat the small stuff. - Richard Carlson. 2. Strategic Stress Management. - Valerie J. Sutherland & -

Cary L. Cooper.

3. Managing Stress. - Donald H. Weiss. Articles: 1.

How to cope with fear & stress. - Reader’s Digest.

2.

Stress Busters. - Midday

3.

Why Women are more stressed than Men.

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STRESS MANAGEMENT AT GODREJ SHANKY JAIN - Midday 4.

Goofy now. - Health & Nutrition

5.

Managing Stress. - Times of India (Education Times)

Websites: 1.

www.mindtools.com

2.

Www.ivf.com/stress.html

3.

http://www.stresstips.com/stress_article.htm

4.

http://www.csbsju.edu/academicadvising/help/stresmgt.html

5.

http://www.psywww.com/mtsite/smsymstr.html

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