Mohit Tater's Blog, page 686

What Should You Consider, When Opening Your Own Small Business?

Some people know from the very beginning that simply going out and looking for a conventional job isn’t the right route for them. When they’re still in school, they’re thinking of the benefits of running their own business, and deciding how they’re going to change the world. Other people start a life as an entrepreneur because of other changes in their life, such as retirement, or parenthood.

Either way, it’s easy to see why approximately 600,000 new businesses appear every year. According to surveys, small business owners love their work experience for a reason. The following are just some of the factors that you should consider when thinking of starting up your very own small business.

Achieve Your Own Independence

Perhaps the primary reason why any individual moves towards a life of running their own business, is that it offers unbeatable independence unlike anything you could access in other workplaces. When you’re your own boss, you don’t have to answer to anyone other than yourself, and there’s a huge amount of freedom in this.

At the same time, you get to determine the things that matter the most to you, and create a business entirely based on your passions, meaning that you’re more likely to love your job.

Think About Who You’re Going to Work With

When you’re working for someone else, you don’t get to pick and choose your co-workers, and if you don’t get along with your team, then the only options are either to suck it up, or go somewhere else. However, when you own your own business, you get to make the choices on who to hire and who to fire, which can make the working environment a great deal more comfortable, and far less stressful.

Determine Your Own Budget

When you’re starting a business for the very first time, you may find that you end up pinching every penny in an attempt to make your idea work. You could start by borrowing money from friends and family, or looking for ways to build revenue quickly so that you can pay for office space and materials. However, one of the good things about the fact that this is your business – is that you can decide exactly how much money is going to go into your budget – and stick to it!

Plan How You’ll save Money

Opening your very own small business, though packed with advantages, does have a degree of cost to think about. Fortunately, if your business is small, then you will have the opportunity to develop your company incrementally, without committing huge amounts of your budget to startup costs. For instance, your small business could start at home before moving into an office or retail location.

At the same time, while you’re building your business, you’ll have time to look for the best providers in broadband, materials, and energy – ensuring that you save as much money as possible. For example, click here to learn more about the energy savings that you could experience from local electrical companies.

Marketing Your Business

This is a consideration that ties in with budgetary aspects to some degree, as it’s important to make sure that you let people know about your company, without going too far when it comes to expense. Marketing materials can be a fun aspect when starting your own business, from designing business cards, to selecting your own logo and picking out graphics for your website.

But remember, that making money is the most important thing. Try to get yourself noticed while spending as little money as possible. You can do this by using techniques such as social media advertising, website SEO, and other online techniques.

Control Your Own Destiny

Many entrepreneurs enjoy the idea of being in control of their own destiny, and making their own decisions. This is perhaps the biggest benefit of owning your very own small business.

When you explore the world as an entrepreneur, you get to make the decisions about everything that matters to you – rather than simply following orders. In other words, you’re in the driver’s seat. While this can be overwhelming to some people who can become overly stressed and forget how to delegate, it is also an incredibly freeing idea for others who have the creativity to grow and develop a brand.

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Tips to Increase Productivity In Your Business

There are only so many hours in the day in which we can get stuff done, so it’s important we make the most of our time so as not to waste it.

If you think your business could greatly benefit from an increase in productivity, we’re here to help. We’ve listed some tips to help you do just that.

Have a form of time tracking management in place

It can sometimes be difficult to determine where all the time has gone for your team, especially if you’re working on lots of projects at once. Therefore it’s a good idea to implement increase in productivity in your business so you can see what your team can get done each day, and you can take actions accordingly to improve things.

Encourage systematic breaks

Though it may sound a little counterproductive, encouraging breaks has been proven to increase productivity levels. Taking systematic intervals away from the computer screen can provide a relief so that when workers go back to it, they’re refreshed and reenergised.

Set deadlines for yourself

As well as setting deadlines for your team, it’s a good idea to set deadlines for yourself so you know exactly what needs to be done and by when. It’s also a good idea to practise what you preach!

Upgrade your internet

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘a workman is only as good as his tools’ and there’s definitely some truth to that when it comes to office workers and an internet connection. After all, if your team spends most of their day attempting to get online, it’ll be a lot of time wasted. Check out options like Smart Business Internet to eliminate this problem once and for all.

Ensure your meetings are actually productive

We’ve all been there where schedule a meeting hoping it will solve anything, yet we’ve all taken part in meetings that have been pretty much useless in terms of productivity. Therefore it’s a good idea to set a clear agenda for all meetings, or look for alternatives to a sit-down meeting, such as a web chat or phone call, which can all be much more productive.

Multitask wisely

Doing a million things at once can feel like you’re on top of things and that your productivity levels are through the roof, though we also know that having your mind on lots of different things at once can mean that we don’t give the individual things the attention they would otherwise get.

Shut off from distractions

If you don’t need your mobile phone on, turn it off. If you don’t want to be hounded by your social media pages, turn off your notifications…simple! Turning off unnecessary distractions can be the best way to get things done in the modern world.

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Shoot For Success: Make Your Startup BANG!

You’ve got success in your sights, profits in your crosshairs and you’re itching to pull the trigger – do you reckon your startup can hit the mark?

Before you blow your wad on a luxury yacht to impress business associates or try out an ad campaign featuring Paris Hilton, take a few steps back from your marker. One expensive misfire could make or break your business.

Indeed, many seemingly up and coming businesses struggle to come up with ideas that are practical, novel and easy to monetise.

Just look at recent outright failure Peeple, an app intended to help you rate your friends and acquaintances with a score between one to five. Ignoring the questionable ethics of the app (it’s hardly likely to be a self-esteem booster), the company was hobbled from the get go by its constant backtracking.

After initial dismay at the app’s premise, the company’s owners removed its killer hook to bring it closer to positive feedback sites like LinkedIn and Klout. But in the process of altering it, the app lost its initial flavour.

Personality is key to a great business – and Peeple lost all of theirs.

Interior spectacular

Media agencies and digital startups require a particular personality to attract clients. They’ve got to be filled with a youthful vigour, bursting with new ideas and able to facilitate and understand the needs of customers who might not be tech-literate.

A startup with a good head on its shoulders knows that it doesn’t only have to look impressive in the digital world. Without a super-stylish office, you’ll attract nothing more than minnows when you should be fishing for prime cod.

Designing an office is a fine art. Depending on the workplaces’ size and your budget, you could have a number of rooms all with a different feel. This might sound like a small priority, but just imagine the different sparks of creativity that’ll burst from your employees in a variety of surroundings.

Smaller offices could invest in a mezzanine floor construction to add an extra level to your premises – and it could even provide your fusty office with a cool rustic look.

Promotion with a bang!

But before anyone can see the effects of your interior design, you’ve got to promote your startup effectively. Some companies will earnestly take out ads in corporate magazines, others will schmooze at snazzy opening parties (invites for high rollers only), and even more will flounder because they’ve failed to market themselves.

Naturally, you’re aiming to avoid the latter. A zesty new startup wants to begin with a bang, so take aim at an opening that will put you firmly on the map.

Most businesses will fall at the first hurdle. Such is capitalism. But if you can establish these three factors, you’ll be far more likely to hit the road running.

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Benefits of Using Eco-Friendly Promotional Items for Business Marketing

In a world where global warming is so important, using promotional items that are eco-friendly can really help save our planet. We need to be more aware and responsible more than ever now in helping to save our environment. We still need to build our businesses too however. Well, now we can have both by using eco-friendly promotional products. Here are the benefits of using them.

Recycled

These promo products are eco-friendly which means they are made from products and materials that have been recycled.  This really helps when it comes to conserving Mother Earth since it won’t contribute to environmental waste.

Cost-Effective

Another benefit is that these eco-friendly promo products are cost-effective. Because they’ve been made from items that were recycled, they typically cost less than other products or items. The machines that make up the conventional products won’t be used.

Ethically Responsible Choice

Promotional items that are environmentally friendly are simply the right choice all the way around. There are many reasons why. One reason is it shows an ethical and environmental conscience which will reflect positively on your company. Our environment’s degradation is a huge issue today and by making the choice to use only products and materials that are best for our precious planet, your business shows that you take a stand on the problem and want to contribute to making it healthy again. Today’s consumers find that appealing since they are increasingly aware of the choices people and businesses make and the products used have a huge impact on the environment.

Since more businesses are opting to move forward with reducing adverse impacts on our planet and pursue sustainable practice, this is not the time for your business to get left behind. You can easily lessen the amount of single-use, disposable plastic items made simply by using reusable shopping bags, for example.

Great Marketing Tools & Customer Loyalty

The biggest benefit of using environmentally friendly promotional items, of course, is that they make perfect marketing tools. Promo items leave a lasting impression with your customers and prospects and build loyalty.  Plus, they keep your brand and company name in the mind of your target market. These days various company promotional products and giveaways are made with eco-friendly materials.

Since there are so many environmentally friendly branded promo items to select from, the toughest part of your job will be to decide which ones to choose. Bottom line, by putting your business name, logo, brand or message on eco-friendly promotional items, you are not only helping your business growth, but you are helping the environment at the same time.

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iRobot: Are Human Jobs on the Brink of Being Terminated?

Revolutions are often violent and bloody affairs that leave swaths of destruction across vast societies that cry for change. The digital revolution however, is a different kind of beast. No one really died or was beaten to a bloody pulp per se, but scores of people from labor intensive industries either got laid off or transferred and replaced by robots.

The Perfect Employee

Robots never get sick, never ask for a raise, never complain, never steal, never get paid overtime, never slack off and will never form unions. Robots are stronger, faster, tougher and more resilient than any human worker on the roster. When you think about it, robots are the epitome of the model employee – management’s dream come true.

Like it or not, robots, artificial intelligence and supercomputers are all part of the digital revolution, and they are slowly but surely taking over. A study by Oxford University and Deloitte reports that in the UK alone, 35% of the current jobs are at a high risk of computerization in the next 20 years.

In Australia, the job loss projection is over 40% in the next couple of decades. In 2013, there were 1.2 million industrial robots working around the world, and with computers getting faster chips that make them smarter than humans, it’s inevitable that in the near future, a large part of the population will have to learn a new skill or be out of a job.

How does your Job stack up?

Some people have it better than others. Just ask referees and umpires in the next 20 years, because their jobs have a 98.3% chance of being automated. You think referees got it bad? Telemarketers have a 99% chance of being automated, which is a scarier proposition because robots can make calls 24/7 and will be unfazed by angry customers.

This data was sourced from Oxford University’s Michael Osborne and Carl Frey, who came up with a guide using calculations on what jobs were most susceptible to automation based on nine important skills required to perform it:

Social perceptiveness
Negotiation
Persuasion
Assisting and caring for others
Originality
Fine arts
Finger dexterity
Manual dexterity
The need to work in a cramped work space

Right off the bat, a number of human jobs can be taken over by robots who are more than likely to outperform the workers they replaced. In China, smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has a state of the art, fully automated cell phone assembly line. There’s even a noodle slicing robot in Dazzling Noodles, an open-kitchen restaurant in Shanxi province.

Drivers, bookkeepers, mill workers, postal workers, tellers and most production line workers are among the jobs that are most likely to be automated, according to the researchers. The guide they made is rough, but it can give us an idea of what the future may look like if robots do take over.

Not so Fast

Even with all this job encroachment by machines, there will always be jobs that are somewhat safe from automation. Health & social workers, doctors, writers, designers and artists seem to be in the clear. Jobs that need human creativity, compassion, care and judgement will always be hard to replace.

The perfect example here would be translation. There are dozens of free translation tools you can use online. Some of them, such as Google Translate and Microsoft Translator, have become pretty accurate and can handle short words and phrases. While these free services are great for personal use, it would be a bad idea to use it for business.

Companies need fast professional document translation services for businesses, not free services that will more often than not, get word pairings and colloquialisms all wrong. Translating a document for business needs a human translator that’s more than a native speaker. This is where training and skill play a huge part.

See you (or not) in 20 years

If your job falls under the “most likely to be replaced by a robot” category, maybe it’s best if you learn another trade that’s future proof and will be in high demand for years to come. In the meantime, all we can do is wait for inevitable. Who knows? Maybe the digital revolution isn’t the last one and humans evolve to be better than robots. Only time will tell.

Want to know if your job is in jeopardy? Check it out here.

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How To Establish Your Business In Style

To say that establishing your foothold in the business world is a bit like spinning plates is a cliché – but it’s also completely true.

Expect the first few years starting your company to be as chaotic as a warzone. You’ll be racing to meetings with clients, rushing to motivate your staff, dashing to discuss finances with your bank manager, and checking your Blackberry every 4.5 seconds.

Emails will ping into your inbox by the ton – and you’ll have to keep on top of it all.

And you’ve got to move fast if you want to stay afloat. According to Forbes, one of the main reasons for business failure is that the owner failed to source appropriate revenue streams for their service in a reasonable period of time.

If you don’t find profit fast, your business will sink faster than a mafia victim wearing concrete shoes. What’s the best way to gain such momentum? Find a few ways to make balancing those plates a little easier.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with a few basics that will lay an effective foundation for your entrepreneurial balancing act. Take a look, implement them and the efficiency of your business model will skyrocket.

On the payroll

When the number of staff on your payroll is ballooning, you’ve got to have a standardised system to keep on top of them all.

By and large, your human resources (HR) department will deal with these hassles – but you’ll have to shell out for the finest tech before they can do their job optimally.

While payroll software used to be about as sophisticated as an abacus, it’s become a world of complexity and breadth that’s underpinned by a beautiful simplicity.

With an effective software package, your HR team will be able to keep track of employees’ progress, sick days and payment, all with minimal input from your staff.

With this tech at your fingertips, you’ll be able to summon the minutiae of your employees’ working day in a flash. Make your investment from the get-go and you’ll never be nonplussed by the comings and goings of your staff.

Don’t overreach

So many businesses falter because they want the moon on a stick. Running before they can walk, their expectations are so that the steps to reach them evade their grasp.

Before you jump into the great unknown, make a varied plan detailing every step you’ll be taking. Consider the perils and pitfalls that could come in between you and success. With these issues always in the back of your mind, you’ll have the moxie to surmount troubles in your enterprise – and the knowledge to avoid any problems.

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Why a Successful Virtual Summit is Important for Your Business Online

It’s no secret that conferences make for an important part of any professional schedule. With advanced technology and sophisticated online platforms available at your service, a virtual summit in the changing landscape is something that is encouraged by a number of pros, including Steve Liefschultz, to leverage its benefits.

Where some individuals continue to think that these do not make for a proper substitute to a one-on-one meeting with respective clients, a majority of organizations are attracted by benefits like cost-effectiveness.

What is a Virtual Summit?

Want to stand out for your charming personality, your passion, and your creativity concurrently as you facilitate educational discussions, get involved with renowned organizations, and build your reputation? This is in crux what virtual summits stand for with their ability to unite the connectivity and convenience of internet to the value that conferences as educational opportunities provide.

Similar to the professional, in-person conferences, virtual summits are packed with interviews, sessions, panel discussions and, in certain cases, social media events regarding the subject matter. The difference is that their viewers are now entitled to access, interact, and be part of the discussions from their homes only as long as the person has an internet connection.

What are the Advantages?

There is no doubting the fact that they are here to stay. As stated above, both participants and organizers like their cost effectives and easy and engaging interaction. Other plus points to guarantee you’ll have audiences join you from around the world include:

They can be attended by anyone, anywhere, and anytime
Access to peers and necessary learning sessions provides instant feedback and so leads to decisions and deals successfully closing quickly
Anyone attending the virtual summit does not has to hunt through multiple corridors and rooms for industry leaders but can have immediate networking
They offer eco-friendly value compared to all the printed materials including brochures and give-aways that used to be trashed away as well as the travel conferences previously entailed
They add up to give you accurate analytics, which a physical event might have a difficult time to provide for; which resources were downloaded, which sessions were watched, etc.

It might not prove such a great idea if your (extrovert) peers prefer face-to-face networking to online events, if they can’t get up and attend one because they lack personal motivation that paying for and travelling to the place of commitment, for instance, brings or are easily distracted by other opportunities.

So how do you make the most of these experiences?

Tips for a Great Virtual Summit

One report claims that virtual events will see a 56% growth during the 2012-2015 period. That’s good enough for Steve Liefschultz to support the following:

Start with a conference strategy; validate the need for it; consider too the hosting platform (e.g. 3D-VirtualEvents, Intercall, Communique Conferencing) you want to go with
Avoid technical glitches and other mistakes by preparing the content in advance and editing it to keep it interesting
Market it; a more through and aggressive campaign would be possible if you’re not troubled by logistics, space limitations, or per-person costs
Ensure it allows people to interact and network with whomever they like

Do you agree? Let us know below.

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The Best Way to Draft and Share Projects Reports

When it comes to managing your projects, there are a lot of solutions out there for you. Some of these are extremely user-friendly, and allow you to do quite a decent job when taking care of the many projects that you are running. One of the most important things to do when you are running a project is teamwork. Every member of the project management team needs to be able to communicate effectively. Even the smallest of delays will impact your team’s ability to perform to the best of their ability.

Because of this, it is very important that you come up with a solution like the CELOXIS web based project management software in order to be able to communicate with the rest of your team efficiently without suffering the delays that are common when doing this in the real world. The infographic below will tell you how you can share all of the reports related to the work being done on your project without going through the annoyance that is constant delays with people and other forms of communication. It will tell you the best way in which you can upgrade to the digital age with your current projects.

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The Benefits of Mentoring in Business

This is a guest post by Tricia Hussung.

What do Steve Jobs, Larry Page and Sergey Brin have in common? Aside from being 21st-century tech titans, all three had excellent business mentors. And they’re not alone: There is a long tradition of mentoring that spans history and even dates back to mythology. In fact, the term originated with an important character from Homer’s Odyssey. In this text that takes place during the Trojan War, Odysseus relies on Mentor to serve as both an overseer of his household and a teacher to his son, Telemachus.

Historical examples of relationships between mentors and mentees include Socrates and Plato, Hayden and Beethoven, and Freud and Jung. Today, the term “mentor” has evolved to mean a trusted advisor, friend, teacher and wise person, according to a book on mentoring by author and businessman Gordon Shea. Mentoring is a fundamental form of human development where a person invests time, energy and personal know-how in assisting the growth and ability of another person, Shea wrote.

So how does mentoring work in the business world? Sir Richard Branson, billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, discussed his take on how important the relationship between mentor and mentee can be for success: “I have always been a huge believer in the inestimable value good mentoring can contribute to any nascent business. Ask any successful businessperson and, if they are honest about it, they will almost certainly admit to having benefited from the advice of a mentor at some point along the way.” Branson credits his own mentor, Sir Freddie Laker, with helping to shape his entire approach to business.

How It Works

Modern mentorship has flexibility that was not possible in the past. Previously, communication had to be carried out in person or over the phone. Now, mentees can get in touch with their mentors through both face-to-face meetings and online interaction. In addition, mentors can come from many places: Family, friends and business contacts can all play a role. And mentoring can be either casual or structured, depending on what works best for both parties. The most important aspect of the relationship is regular professional contact — no matter how it is carried out.

There are two main factors to consider when forming a mentoring relationship. First, decide on the degree of involvement. The arrangement should meet the needs of both the mentor and mentee, whether they choose to work closely with each other or to carry out conversations by email as needed. Second, determine the level of structure. If the mentoring is formal, there could be regular meetings with specific agendas and goals. In more casual arrangements, mentees might call on the mentor as problems arise or when guidance is needed.

Online mentoring, or e-mentoring, is ideal for those who are looking for an informal connection or who are geographically distant from one another. E-mentoring is an interactive, long-distance relationship between mentor and mentee. In today’s globally connected world, meaningful mentorship is more achievable than ever before.

Benefits

To get the most out of a mentoring experience, it is important to choose a mentor who has a deep understanding of how business works. Although it may seem that the information learned in manuals and classes is enough, the information gained from these sources is better absorbed and applied through the context a mentor can give. Especially for those new to business, building a one-on-one relationship with an experienced advisor is a smart way to help ensure success. According to Miranda Morley of Demand Media, the following are just some of the real-world benefits of mentorship:

Advice

One of the key benefits of the mentor-mentee relationship is advice from a more experienced party. Mentors can provide answers to questions and suggestions that can make a big difference when it comes to navigating the business world.

Perspective

Because they are experienced, mentors can also provide context and perspectives that were not previously considered. For example, they can be knowledgeable about how consumers and potential investors respond to various strategies because they have encountered similar situations in the past.

Improving skills

In contrast to consultants who may only be concerned with what’s best for a business venture, mentors are invested in helping mentees develop business skills for the long term.

Networking

Mentors have valuable connections in the business world. Networking is vital for climbing the corporate ladder, so having a close relationship with a successful mentor can be essential.

Methods and strategies

Business mentorship can also be a source of proven approaches to prevent or address problems when they arise. From recruiting and staffing to cultivating a positive company culture, mentors provide knowledge for all aspects of business.

Long-lasting relationships

One of the most significant benefits of business mentorship is the chance to collaborate throughout the course of careers. Fostering a long-lasting relationship with mentors can give new business professionals access to consistent guidance and resources.

Confidence and encouragement

Sometimes all it takes to make important business decisions is confidence. Mentors are perfectly positioned to provide guidance and reinforce the business skills their mentees have, making them more self-assured in all of their business interactions.

Forbes contributor Ken Perlman is a passionate supporter of mentorship because of its effects on leadership in the business world. He stresses that good mentors can help new professionals learn skills that go beyond the classroom, such as management principles and leadership practices. Perlman has seen firsthand the benefits that the mentor-mentee relationship can have for both parties. “The value of a mentor who can help cultivate leadership skills one-on-one in real-time, reduce the anxiety in taking big steps, and focus leaders on achieving their goals — is huge,” he says. As a mentor himself, Perlman knows how important it is to have an experienced contact who can “provide a different perspective, relate different leadership experiences and ask a different set of questions.” And through his work with clients of all types, Perlman has identified a common theme: “When I ask them, to whom or what they attribute their strong leadership skills, their answers are rather consistent. More often than not, they attribute their leadership skill-building to one or more influential individuals — strong mentors — who helped show them how to lead.”

The Mentor and MAP Program at

Concordia University, St. Paul

When you enroll in the online MBA program at Concordia University, St. Paul, you have access to meaningful mentorship from an experienced business professional. The Concordia MBA Mentor and Managerial Application Portfolio (MAP) program sets you up for success through your studies and beyond graduation. All MBA students have a designated faculty mentor to support and guide them through graduate school. Your faculty mentor will act as a personal business coach and help you develop networking strategies, polish interpersonal skills and enhance your resume. Business success is within reach with Concordia’s online MBA. Learn more about the Mentor and MAP program today to get started.

 

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Understanding Work Stress

Based on an annual survey from the American Psychological Association (APA), 60 percent of people in the United States consider their job a major source of stress. In fact, job stress ranked higher than the economy, family responsibilities and even personal health concerns. Other studies report similar findings: A quarter of surveyed employees view their job as the No. 1 stressor in their lives. The same survey found that 40 percent of employees report their job to be “very” or “extremely” stressful. And according to Princeton Survey Research Associates, three-fourths of employees believe that workers have more on-the-job stress than a generation ago.

It is clear that work-related stress affects a large number of Americans, but why? The answer may lie in social change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the nature of work is changing at a rapid pace. Employees are expected to work long hours and, in lean economic times, to do so for less pay. The results of this environment include fear, uncertainty and, of course, stress. Stress is the result of emotional, physical, social, economic or other factors that require a response to change. Workplace stress, then, refers to the harmful responses that can occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources or needs of the employee.

Job stress should not be confused with challenge, which motivates the employee to learn and master new skills. Challenge is an important aspect of productive work. Some stress is OK. But when it occurs rapidly and in large amounts, mental and physical health can be negatively affected. The ability of employees to deal with job stress can determine their success or failure in a role. Fortunately, as more research is completed, employers and leadership have a greater understanding of job stress and how to prevent it. For employees, finding ways to manage stress in the workplace is key.

Causes of Job Stress

Stress on the job can have various origins or come from just one aspect of a worker’s responsibilities. And its effects are far-reaching: Workplace stress can affect both employers and their employees. The economy is currently on the upswing, but job security was uncertain in not-so-distant years. Downsizing, layoffs, mergers and bankruptcies occur in industries and companies of all types; this means big changes for workers. Even when job loss does not occur, employees may face increased responsibility, higher production demands, fewer benefits, pay cuts and more. In general, this creates an environment of stress around the office. Some of the causes of job stress identified by the CDC and APA include the following:

Low morale: When morale is low, workers often feel powerless. This in turn makes them complacent, and productivity suffers. Some of the most stressful jobs include secretary, waiter, middle manager, police officer and editor. These occupations are all marked by the service aspect of responsibilities: These professionals must respond to the demands and timelines of others with little control over events. Common to these types of careers are feelings of too little authority, unfair labor practices and inadequate job descriptions.
Management style: Another factor in stressful work situations is management style. When a workplace has poor communication and employees are not included in decision-making processes, workers don’t feel supported by their coworkers and employers. In addition, a lack of family-friendly policies can lead to increased stress due to effects on work-life balance.
Job responsibilities: How tasks are assigned and carried out is a big contributor to workplace stress. This includes heavy workload, infrequent breaks, long hours and shifts, unnecessary routine tasks, ignoring workers’ skills and more. When job expectations are uncertain or conflicting, employees feel they have too much responsibility and too many “hats to wear.”
Career concerns: Another factor in workplace stress is career concerns such as job insecurity or lack of advancement opportunities. Rapid changes with little or no learning curve are also identified by the CDC as problematic.
Traumatic events: While not ideal, it is true that some jobs are more dangerous than others. Many criminal justice professionals, firefighters, first responders and military personnel experience stressful situations and personal risk every day. Occasionally, this can cause ordinary responsibilities to become difficult. For that reason, positions such as those listed above are particularly stressful.
Work environment: Most of the previous causes of workplace stress are emotional; however, a subpar work environment can create physical stress as well. Whether this is related to noise, lack of privacy, poor temperature control or inadequate facilities, work setting is critical in lowering workplace stress.

Work Stress Symptoms

Although it’s easy to pinpoint the causes of stress in life, narrowing down the effects is not as simple. Understanding what stress is lets us see how it can negatively affect both the mental and physical health of employees. According to the CDC, stress “sets off an alarm” in the brain that prepares the body to defend against the stressor. The nervous system is put on alert, and hormones are released that sharpen senses, increase pulse, deepen respiration and tense muscles. This is commonly referred to as the “fight or flight” response. It’s biologically programmed, which means humans have little or no control over it. When stressful situations are ongoing or unresolved, this response is constantly activated, causing wear and tear on different biological systems. Eventually, fatigue occurs and the immune system is weakened. This increases the risk of disease or injury.

In recent decades, researchers have studied the relationship between job stress and physical illness. Examples include sleep disturbances, upset stomach and headache, as well as compromised relationships with family and friends. Other symptoms include:

Headaches
High blood pressure
Indigestion
Insomnia
Irritability
Depression
Short attention span
Loss of appetite
Procrastination
Increased use of alcohol and drugs
Poor job performance

These signs are easy to recognize, but the effects of stress on chronic disease are less obvious because these ailments develop over time and can be caused by many different factors. However, data is beginning to show that stress plays an important role in many common but serious health problems. According to the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, health care costs are nearly 50 percent higher for workers who report high levels of stress. The following are some of the long-term negative effects of stress.

Cardiovascular disease: Psychologically demanding jobs that give employers little control over work processes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety.
Musculoskeletal disorders: It is believed that stress increases the risk of back and upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders.
Psychological disorders: Several studies suggest that differences in mental health problems for various occupations are due to differences in job stress levels. Such problems include depression and burnout.
Workplace injury: There is also a concern that stressful working conditions can interfere with safety practices and increase the risk of injury at work.
Suicide, cancer, ulcers and immune function: Some studies suggest that there is a relationship between workplace stress and these health problems, but more research is needed to draw firm conclusions.

Solutions for Managing Workplace Stressors

Some employers and employees assume that high levels of workplace stress are normal, or that pressure to perform is the only way to stay productive and profitable. However, research tends to challenge these assumptions. The CDC points to studies that show “stressful working conditions are actually associated with increased absenteeism, tardiness, and intentions by workers to quit their jobs — all of which have a negative effect on the bottom line.” In addition, the CDC cites data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “Workers who must take time off work because of stress, anxiety, or a related disorder will be off the job for about 20 days.” A healthy workplace is defined as one that has low rates of illness, injury and disability in its workforce while remaining competitive in the marketplace. Some characteristics of such organizations include:

Recognition of employees for good work performance
Opportunities for career development
An organizational culture that values the individual worker
Management actions that are consistent with organizational values

There are actions that reduce job stress as well. Stress management training and employee assistance programs (EAP) can improve workers’ ability to deal with difficult work situations through understanding the sources of stress, the effects of stress on health and strategies to eliminate stressors. Such strategies might include time management or relaxation exercises. This type of training may quickly decrease stress symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia. It is also a relatively inexpensive and simple way to address the problem. Another way to mitigate workplace stress is by hiring a consultant who can recommend ways to improve the work environment. This is a direct way to reduce stressors at work and involves identifying stressful factors and then reducing them as much as possible. It can also change work routines for the better, increasing productivity.

Other leadership strategies that can prevent job stress include:

Ensuring that workload is aligned with employee capabilities and resources
Designing jobs that provide meaning and opportunities for workers to succeed
Clearly defining roles and responsibilities
Providing opportunities for professional development and participation in decision-making
Improving communication concerning the overall health of the company
Providing opportunities for social interaction among workers
Establishing schedules that make sense for demands and responsibilities outside of work (work-life balance)

These efforts may vary due to the size and complexity of the organization, along with available resources and the specific stress-related problems in the workplace.

Employees also have the ability to maintain good mental health and reduce stress in their own lives. There are many ways to do this, such as learning to relax, taking short breaks throughout the day, prioritizing, managing time well and communicating effectively with coworkers. Lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise and making healthy food choices are other ways that employees can decrease stress, as these good habits will carry over into the workplace. Though job stress will never be completely eliminated, strategies like these are effective in reducing its occurrence and improving the productivity and morale of employees in all types of organizations.

Learn how to successfully manage stressors and develop a highly functioning workplace with an online degree from Concordia University, St. Paul. CSP offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, psychology, organizational leadership and more. Discover what a flexible, affordable, valuable degree from CSP can mean for your career.

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