What are the most common signs of workplace stress, and how can you address them with Emotional Intelligence?

1 Sign 1: Physical symptoms

One of the most obvious signs of workplace stress is experiencing physical symptoms, such as headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, insomnia, or digestive problems. These symptoms can indicate that your body is under constant pressure and unable to cope with the demands of your work environment. To address this sign, you need to use EI to listen to your body and take care of your basic needs. This means getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising regularly, and taking breaks to relax and recharge.

2 Sign 2: Emotional symptoms

Another sign of workplace stress is experiencing emotional symptoms, such as anxiety, irritability, anger, sadness, or burnout. These symptoms can indicate that your mood is affected by the challenges and conflicts you face at work, and that you are losing your motivation and enthusiasm. To address this sign, you need to use EI to identify and express your emotions in healthy ways. This means acknowledging how you feel, seeking support from others, finding positive outlets for your emotions, and practicing gratitude and optimism.

3 Sign 3: Cognitive symptoms

A third sign of workplace stress is experiencing cognitive symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. These symptoms can indicate that your mental capacity is impaired by the overload and complexity of your work tasks, and that you are prone to errors and mistakes. To address this sign, you need to use EI to prioritize and organize your work, and to seek feedback and guidance from others. This means setting realistic goals, managing your time, delegating or outsourcing tasks, and learning from your experiences.

4 Sign 4: Behavioral symptoms

A fourth sign of workplace stress is experiencing behavioral symptoms, such as procrastination, isolation, withdrawal, or aggression. These symptoms can indicate that your coping skills are inadequate or maladaptive, and that you are avoiding or harming yourself or others. To address this sign, you need to use EI to change your habits and actions, and to improve your relationships with others. This means taking action instead of delaying, reaching out instead of withdrawing, cooperating instead of competing, and resolving instead of escalating conflicts.

5 Sign 5: Performance symptoms

A fifth sign of workplace stress is experiencing performance symptoms, such as reduced quality, quantity, or creativity of your work output. These symptoms can indicate that your skills and abilities are compromised by the stressors and demands of your work, and that you are not meeting your expectations or standards. To address this sign, you need to use EI to enhance your skills and abilities, and to align your work with your values and purpose. This means seeking opportunities to learn and grow, asking for feedback and recognition, finding meaning and satisfaction in your work, and celebrating your achievements.

6 How to develop EI

As you can see, EI can help you address the signs of workplace stress in various ways. However, EI is not a fixed trait that you either have or don't have. It is a skill that you can develop and improve with practice and feedback. To develop EI, you need to be aware of your own emotions and their impact on your thoughts and behaviors, and to be attentive to the emotions and needs of others. You also need to be able to regulate your emotions and impulses, and to adapt to changing situations and challenges. Finally, you need to be able to communicate and collaborate effectively with others, and to build trust and rapport. By developing EI, you can not only reduce your workplace stress, but also enhance your personal and professional well-being and success.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?