| High Stress Warning Signs |  |
by Dale Collie
Military leaders are taught the symptoms of acute
stress so they can treat the symptoms and keep
soldiers on the front line. In the worst
situations, the Army has experienced the loss of
as many soldiers to stress as to combat wounds. In
the best of conditions, the loss to stress has
been one soldier for every ten wounded by the
enemy.
Corporate leaders don't have the same concerns
about losing employees to enemy fire. However,
they do lose employees to stress. The loss comes
in the form of absenteeism, medical problems
associated with stress, lower productivity,
accidents, and poor performance.
Employees react the same as soldiers do to sleep
deprivation, physical discomfort, too much work,
and trauma. Some people are more susceptible to
stress, but even the most tolerant have some
reaction to stressful events.
The Army teaches leaders to watch for stress
reactions such as anxiety, indecisiveness,
argumentativeness, and irritability. The more
sever stress reactions include memory loss,
stuttering, crying, vacant stares, and strange
behavior.
Negative stress reactions are considered normal in
battle. Officers and sergeants are trained to
control stress in their units rather than send
troops to rear-area hospitals. Experience shows
that most of the negative stress reactions of
battle fatigue can be controlled by:
--coach
--confidence building
--food
--rest
You can use the same remedies in the workplace
when you observe negative stress reactions. Good
managers control stress before it gets out of
hand.
However, employees who suffer truly severe
reactions need professional help. Talk with your
human resources experts if you think someone might
need a medical or mental health professional.
Get the entire list of mild and severe stress
reactions as recognized by the US Army. Send
email: MailTo:stresslist@couragebuilders.com
Stress control is a leadership responsibility.
Spot stress reactions early and take action.
©2004 by Courage Builders International
Dale Collie speaker, author, coach, and former US
Army Ranger, corporate president,and teacher at
West Point. Selected by "Fast Company" as one of
America's Fast 50 innovative leaders. Author of
"Frontline Leadership: From War Room to Boardroom"
and "Winning Under Fire: Turn Stress into Success
the US Army Way" (McGraw-Hill)
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