Career Management and Special Challenges in Career Management - Essay Example

Human Resource Development Name Tutor Institution Course Date Career Management and Special Challenges in Career Management Introduction In psychology, stress refers to an unpleasant physiological and emotional state that individuals experience whenever they perceive threats or danger in their lives. The word stress has different meanings depending on the people or situation involved. While some individuals define stress as those situations or events which cause tension, negative emotions, or pressure, others view it as being the response that people have while in such situations. The response is coupled with such physiological changes as muscle tension as well as increased rate of heart beat (Tovey & Lawlor, 2004). Most psychologists have regarded stress as being a process where people’s responses and interpretations are involved with threatening events. In essence, stress is commonly experienced as people go about their lives. With regard to an organizational environment, individuals feel stressed up whenever they happen to be busy, or when they have to meet important deadlines. This means that workers are mentally disturbed whenever there is little time to complete the tasks at hand (Smith, 2002). There are several other reasons why people experience stress, and these reasons ought to be addressed carefully by the management as well as other stakeholders. The factors include challenging working environment and difficult social relationships. Such relationships include biased evaluation by the supervisors and hurting arguments by friends. Individuals may be vulnerable to stress whenever there is a threat of personal humiliation or failure. Other people have fears of things or objects associated with threats of bodily harm, and these include illnesses, snakes, flying, or storms. This means that employees become stressed every time they think about or encounter the perceived threats. Other major events in one’s life, like the death of a kin, may result into severe stress to the individuals in question (Tovey & Lawlor, 2004). Although the subject of stress management is quite different from that of time management, the two are intertwined in a manner that proves difficult to address one without the other. This is because when the employees are stressed, they end up wasting the organization’s time. Therefore, the organization fails to deliver as per the expectations of other stakeholders as well as the clients. As a result of this, this report addresses the two subjects concurrently, although it does make distinct separation where necessary (Smith, 2002). Time Management Time management refers to the process or act of planning the time that the employees spend on certain activities. The planning process enhances productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the organization. Time management is facilitated by a variety of tools, techniques, and skills. Initially, the idea behind time management was being applied on the business as a whole. This has now been broadened so as to facilitate the inclusion of the activities that individuals have to undertake at the personal level. Time management has been found to be necessary during the completion of all types of projects. This is due to the manner in which it determines the completion of projects, especially with regard to scope and time. There are a number of major themes which arise while perusing literature on the management of time. These themes include the creation of an environment that is conducive for facilitating effectiveness. It does also enable the stakeholders set priorities in an appropriate manner. Those priorities guide the activities which the stakeholders undertake during their day-to-day obligations (Smith, 2002). Time management is regarded to be a portion of other concepts including project planning and scheduling. It has also been identified as being among the core functions which are conducted during project management. In this section, time management is explicated in a manner that involves personal knowledge management as well as attention management. Attention management refers to the situation where cognitive resources are managed through the allocation of time and conduct of activities in an effective manner (Baker & Doran, 2002). Major Sources of Stress in a Working Environment Catastrophes Catastrophes are sudden and life-threatening calamities or disasters which push individuals beyond the limits of their capabilities. When people are so pushed, they tend to require a significant amount time to recover. During the recovery period, most employees do not work optimally. It, therefore, prove to be a bit challenging to achieve the organizational goals in timely manner. This is why it proves to be important to understand the common catastrophes so as to find the best methods of addressing the associated challenges. Common catastrophes include automobile accidents, violent sexual attacks, torture, wars, as well as natural disasters. In most instances, catastrophes do continue to affect the victims mentally for a long time, irrespective of whether the causal events have ended or not. Employees continue to demonstrate emotional disturbances, and these may even include nightmares. Such situations affect productivity in a significant manner. In this regard, the management has to factor in the effect of these catastrophes while managing their time (Smith, 2002). Major Changes in Life The most common causes of stress in adults include major changes in life. These include death of spouses or kin, divorce, losing a job, imprisonment, major illness, as well as personal disability. Amongst the youth, the major causes of stress include death of parents or kin, parent’s divorce, imprisonment of a parent, illness, and personal disability. Those who experience such major changes in life ought to be allowed some time to recover effectively before being required to accomplish strenuous duties (Delahaye, 2005). At times, positive events have been perceived to cause stress in a manner that can impair output at the work place. For instance, promotion may cause stress, even when it results into increased wages and salaries. Stress may occur during the instances when the promoted employees are required to supervise their former co-workers and team members. Other instances of stress may be experienced when the promoted employees are expected to plan important events. In such instances, they face difficulty in deciding the location, who to invite, and at times, even the agenda (Delahaye, 2005). Daily Hassles The main cause of stress amongst the workforce is the challenge of dealing with the daily hassles. These are the hassles which have to be accomplished as they pertains to their job descriptions, daily living circumstances, as well as personal relationships. Examples of such hassles include working in noisy neighbourhoods, commuting or driving in heavy traffic, having to dislike fellow co-workers, worries over salaries, and losing or misplacing tools (Delahaye, 2005). Considering each of the said hassles individually makes them appear to be like minor irritants. Nevertheless, taking them cumulatively causes severe stress overtime. The exposures people have to their daily hassles have been found to have a strong bearing on their mood. In fact, research studies have concluded that people’s exposures to their daily hassles are more predictive of illnesses that their exposure to great live events. When illnesses set in, the employees end up wasting a significant amount of time, and this is why it is always advisable to assign reasonable duties so as to mitigate the chances that the employees are over stressed (Smith, 2002). Coping with Stressful Situations on a Timely Basis Coping with stressful situations refers to the use of actions and thoughts in a manner that lowers stress levels while undertaking the assigned duties. Many individuals establish their unique ways of dealing with stress, and this uniqueness is closely related to their personalities. Those who manage to cope appropriately tend to conclude that they have the capacity to influence the things which happen to them. Such individuals tend to make positive statements, resist frustrations, persevere, and remain optimistic even when the circumstances are extremely adverse (DeSimone et al., 2002). The most important thing is that most of the successful employees tend to choose the appropriate strategies which then enable them cope with stressful situations. Conversely, individuals who fail to cope with stressful situations tend to have their personality eroded. They adopt a pessimistic view of work, and they also suffer low self-esteem. Psychologists have distinguished two broad categories of the coping strategies. The strategies are either emotion-focuses or problem-focused. The objective of any of these strategies is to mitigate the levels of stress. With regard to the problem-focused strategy, individual workers tend to disregard the negative emotions. They then attempt to avoid, minimize, as well as modify the threatening factors and situations. Individuals are, therefore, forced to alter their behaviours as they engage in their day-to-day activities (Jakupec & Garrick, 2002). With regard to the emotional focused approach, individuals tend to directly seek to eliminate or moderate a number of unpleasant emotions. Emotional focused approach involves the rethinking of situations in a positive manner, denial, wishful thinking, and relaxation. Generally, it has been established that problem-focused approaches are successful especially when people are expected to identify opportunities for growth, while still reducing the levels of stress. The emotional focused option is only useful on short-term basis. This means that it can facilitate the reduction of an individual’s arousal level, before the said individual engage in taking action and solving problems (DeSimone et al., 2002). Irrespective of the strategy that the concerned parties opt to take, the time factor has to be considered. The goal of the organization ought to be the undertaking of responsibilities in the most appropriate manner possible. Achieving goals on a timely basis means that the organization is able to exploit opportunities as soon as they are available. This does, actually, enhance profitability, and the organization is able to win and retain clients (Jakupec & Garrick, 2002). Reflection I Teamwork facilitates the elimination of challenges which would arise in case there are misplaced goals and objectives. During this course, I have learnt how teamwork facilitates the exploitation of opportunities in a manner that is in line with the expectations of all the stakeholders. I have learnt how working in teams enables the workers to save a significant amount of time and resources, and this means that the organization does not suffer derailments. The course has enabled me realize that employees look up to the management in the setting of goals, as well as timetables for achieving those goals. In this regard, I have established that it is upon the managers to influence the rest of the work force in perfecting the art of working in teams. I have realized that the best approach towards the achievement of goals and objectives is bringing everyone onboard. This is why an organization endeavours in involving everyone in timetabling, since the achievement of the goals requires teamwork and cooperation amongst all the stakeholders. Having participated in teamwork myself, I have learnt that individuals are able to inspire each other, especially when faced with challenging situations. I have realized that this is basically meant to facilitate timely completion of duties within the organization. I have realized that the strategies employed in time management are usually associated with recommendations in setting personal goals. Much of the literature I have analysed has been stressing such themes as working in the order of priority as well as attracting actions automatically. I have established that the goals in question are usually recorded in a manner that breaks them down into projects, action plans, or simplified task lists. I have learnt that often, time management activities do incorporate web based applications or time clocks. I have seen how these are used in tracking the employees’ work hours. This course has enabled me realize how this do also give the employers appropriate insights with regard to the nature of their workforces. I have been able to witness how the employers also see and manage time in a manner that facilitates the achievement of the organizational objectives. The experience has taught me how the employers increase productivity as well as control the labour costs. This course has enabled me appreciate that time management systems empower the management into automating processes through the elimination of tedious tasks and unnecessary paper work. I have seen how these do also enable the workers to perfect team effort, as well as learn that working in teams is the best strategy for the organization. I can now conclude that working in teams do benefit individual employees as well as the organization as a whole. This is especially when it is established in an all inclusive manner where everyone’s views are considered. Reflection II While working in the organization, stress has been recognized for motivating the employees to achieve. This is due to the manner in which it fuels creativity while situations prove to be difficult. As I undertook this study, I realized that moderate levels of stress tend to improve performance and motivation to undertake less complex activities. I have also been able to appreciate that stress do, however, hinder positive outcomes in cases where the tasks in question happen to be difficult. I have established that stress result into reduced cooperation and heightened aggression whenever it is mishandled. I have learnt that in cases where stress is mismanaged, the organization tends to land into serious challenges. I have seen how exposure to instances of chronic stress does contribute to physical as well as emotional injuries. The study has enabled me to realize that the physical injuries in question include heart diseases. Moreover, I have realized that anxiety disorders are some of the emotional injuries which stressed-up individuals tend to experience. The course has enabled me appreciate that health psychology’s main focus is on the manner in which stress impact on the body functioning, as well as how individuals can utilize stress management skilfulness in preventing or minimizing diseases. I have analysed various studies as I undertook this course, and I have realized that individuals have the capacity to work themselves to their own deaths. I have been able to establish that this is why the employees are encouraged to work together in teams since teamwork facilitates the mitigation of stress. I have also been able to evaluate how like long hours and workplace stress happen to be major contributors to risks associated with death due to overwork. As I did so, I learnt that stressed individuals have anxious thoughts, and they actually experience difficulty in remembering or concentrating. During the course of this study, I have established that stress has the capacity to alter outward behaviours. I have realized that hand wringing, teeth clenching, nail bitting, heavy breathing, and pacing are among the common signs people show while under stressful situations. I have seen how individuals tend to feel differently, especially physically, whenever they are under stressful situations. The study has enabled me appreciate that such symptoms as increased heart rate, dry mouth, cold feet and hands, and uneasiness in the stomach are all indicators of stress. I have now realized that the symptoms are actually associated with such emotions as anxiety. I have learnt that amongst the employees in an organization, stress can be managed through a variety of ways, including relaxation, social support, and aerobic exercise. I have also realized that meditation and progressive muscular relaxation are some of the best strategies of relieving stress. This is usually done as the individual concentrates on the contrasting sensations resulting from the procedure. I have learnt that meditation facilitates the achievement of contemplation, consciousness, and wisdom. Indeed, this course avails the knowledge of how people do also relax while meditating, and this means that they manage to have multiple achievements. Stress related arousals and such disorders as migraine, chronic pain, and hypertension are surmounted have also been covered extensively. I have learnt and concluded that all these methods works well when there is social support amongst the employees, especially through teamwork. I have seen how social support systems provide individuals with appropriate emotional sustenance as well as necessary information during the time of need. I have also seen how individuals with social support tend to feel valued and cared about. In this regard, I have learnt how the management of labor force is sophisticated since most of these factors have to be considered simultaneously. Nevertheless, I have realized that the organization is able to achieve its goals when the processes of time and stress management are carefully undertaken. This course has, therefore, been important in my career. References Baker, J. R. & Doran, M. S. (2002).Human resource management: In-basket exercises for school administrators. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. Delahaye, B.L. (2005). Human resource development: Adult learning and knowledge management (2nd ed.). Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. DeSimone, R. L., Werner, J. M. & Harris, D. M. (2002). Human resource development. Fort Worth: Harcourt College Publishers. Jakupec, V. & Garrick, J. (Eds.). (2002). Flexible learning, human resource and organisational development: Putting theory to work. London: Routledge. Smith, A. (2002). Training and development in Australia (2nd ed.). Sydney: Butterworths. Tovey, M. D. & Lawlor, D. (2004). Training in Australia: Design, delivery, evaluation, management. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Education, Prentice-Hall. Read More