Stress in the workplace has been a problem businesses have had to deal with since ages.  Being stressed while working can be a good thing as it helps you to meet deadlines and also finding solutions to whatever task you are working on and often the stress fades away as the task is completed.  What is dangerous is when stress becomes too excessive and difficult to control.

Stress at work can be one of the most harmful weapon to any business.  I am referring to stress as a weapon as it can directly affect the smooth running of a company as stressed workers are usually less productive which can cost a lot of money to the company they are working for.  Very often stressed employees put the blame on the employer which may or may not be true.  Blaming others is easy but it is a good idea to find the root cause of the stress as it will help to find a solution to lower the tension.

So, the worker will have to look both at the internal (the job) and external (personal habits) factors that contributed to stress.  Very often both can contribute to stress but since I am talking about workplace stress, I will list down more factors that might contribute to stress internally, i.e. on the workplace.

Let's first look at the internal factors that contributed to job stress.  I will be listing factors that I have noticed around me and my colleagues and also what I have read.

• Lack of communication with the employer or colleagues
• Unrealistic expectations from the employer
• The feeling of being exploited, no raise in pay
• No specific goals for tasks assigned
• Unfair company policies
• No preparation for changes
• Conflicts among staff

Of course there are many other factors that can make the working environment stressful but it is important to find the cause to help find a solution.  Let us now check the external factors that might have contributed to stress.  Your personal life plays a big role on your overall performance; it is good to analyze what is not running smoothly on this side of your life too.  Here are a few external factors that can stress workers:

• Death of a close family member
• Financial problems
• Worries about kids education
• Unplanned pregnancy
• Procrastination and so on

Once the main cause of stress has been found, it will be much easier to cope with it and hopefully find a solution to make the workplace less stressful.  It is impossible to completely get rid of stress but less stress equals to higher productivity.