Tag Archives: Stress

Dealing with Stress in the Year of the Monkey

CRI It could be that the economy is booming and there’s pressure to drive a better car, live in a better house and wear more expensive clothes. It could also be the case that the economy is tanking and there is pressure to stay put and maintain a quality of life. There is even a possibility your family is encouraging you to “take it easy” and “have a rest”, even though this may not be practical. It is hard to dispute that in modern China, competition and pressure abound. In this edition of career builder, we address a number of issues surrounding:
  1. Pressure, what is reasonable, and when does it become stress?
  2. Should we take drastic action to deal with pressure and stress?
  3. Is pressure and stress part of the normal pattern of working life?
  4. What can we do to relieve stress?
  5. What are the benefits or relieving stress?

Read more ...

Executives Reach Breaking Point – RMG CEO on China Daily

Stress among managers in China is mounting, even causing deaths at work. What is pushing them to the brink?

These days, Brian Dong is crying out for a vacation. The stress of running a startup company in China’s finance industry is threatening to overwhelm him. Too bad he does not have the time.

As the CEO of an Australian foreign exchange trading company, he has a laundry list of tasks and roles, from dealing with hundreds of emails every day, reporting to the board and investors to giving directions to his employees.

“From the moment I get into the office till the time my head hits the pillow, I’ve worked almost 15 hours a day,” the 30-year-old executive says. “I should take some time off before I burn out.”

Like Dong, many business leaders in China are saddled with enormous pressures. But stress among senior executives is often not discussed in the corporate world, where working 80 to 100 hours a week is the norm.

China Daily found out, however, that stress and problems related to high stress are more common and serious than many employers are willing to admit. Sixty percent of business executives in China say they have seen their stress increase in 2011, according to Grant Thornton, an international business research accounting firm.

The number is 28 percent higher than the average stress level around the world and the second-highest after Greece, which is currently under a deep depression with 67 percent of senior executives admitting a spike in stress levels.

Jonathan Geldart, the global head of marketing and communications at Grant Thornton International Ltd, says the problem is getting serious and sometimes dangerous because stress can force business leaders to make decisions too quickly or worst of all, take the wrong direction.

“Eventually it can affect the profitability of a company or even bankrupt it if the stress is not managed because you are stressed and you don’t look thoughtfully at all of the issues,” he says. Geldart says there is more pressure on the Chinese government to fix the nation’s ills.

“The Chinese government is clamping down on many aspects of business corruption in particular, in taxation, in improving the accounting standards and in encouraging people to go overseas, so the pressure is rising. And the economy is not doing as well as it used to. So there is a higher pressure in China than other places.”

The American Institute of Stress estimates that American companies lose over $300 billion every year due to stress and stress-related diseases such as absences, exhaustion and mental health problems.

According to RMG International, a recruitment consultancy in Beijing, work pressure costs Chinese businesses more than $100 million each year.

A recent example of what stress can do in China happened earlier this month. A 25-year-old employee of Kingsoft, a software company in Beijing, died at his desk after spending the night in the office. The company denied that too much work contributed to the tragedy.

In recent months, unexplainable deaths have been more common in financial sector.

In May, a 34-year-old senior manager in the legal department of CITIC Securities, China’s largest listed securities company by total market value, died of cerebral hemorrhage. The death triggered a heated public discussion with many saying that the death resulted from the manager being overworked.

Peer pressure

Experts say several of the deaths are closely related to being overworked as well as intense pressure from peers, the fear of “losing face” and unrealistic business expectations in the workplace.

Mike Thompson, a professor of management practice at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai, says that in China there is a great amount of pressure on an individual to be seen as successful among peers.

Robert Parkinson, CEO and founder of RMG, says that money leads to pressures to live a prestigious life, to have a nice apartment, to join a nice club and to marry a pretty girl.

“People are fearful of losing their position in society or lose their money when they become rich,” he says. “In China 40 or 50 years ago, people were concerned about whether they had have enough to eat or if they had enough basic things.

But as China has rapidly expanded its economy with the huge level of disposable income available to the people, things have changed. This competition to have more things in life will never end if your only value is money.”

The increasing desire for luxury goods is an apt explanation of why people seemed more stressed in China than in other countries.

Here, people are trying to live up to a social status they’ve created for themselves.

All about face

One of the results from the Grant Thornton survey is that business people in the United Kingdom and France have the lowest stress levels in the world.

Thompson, who was born in the UK and has been working in China for more than three years, says one of the causes of lower stress levels in the workplace in the UK is directly connected with humor or wit that works as a relief to stress. He says it’s a very common factor across all UK workplaces.

“It is more acceptable and more usual to use and express humor at the expense of someone else in the UK than in other places, particularly in China,” he says. “Humor can lower stress because the use of humor actually allows a person to more fully disclose who they really are.”

But Parkinson says in China, people care most about losing face. “What does losing face mean? It means looking stupid,” he says.

“In my interpretation, people in China care very much about what people think of them and that causes lots of stress. In fast-moving competitive working environments, you can have conflicts and misunderstandings very easily.”

Oliver Barron, the head of the Beijing division of NSBO China, a UK-based Chinese government policy investment research firm, says the Chinese concept of losing face makes managing workers very difficult. Losing face is another source of pressure for many foreign managers in China.

Heavy workload

Experts say that a heavy workload and high expectations are two major sources of stress for senior managers.

According to the report by Grant Thornton, 24 percent of respondents from China believe their stress stems from the pursuit of business goals, while 20 percent of the respondents reported difficulties in finding a work-life balance.

“I think the expansion of personal performance targets is one of the chief causes in the rise of stress internationally and particularly in China, where I think the competitive nature of the market is stronger than in the West,” says CEIBS’ Thompson.

In the face of stress, many senior managers are trying to manage the pressure by delegating work to others, while some are finding other ways to help ease their stress, such as meditation, exercising and traveling.

Barron also recommends meditation on a regular basis.

“Ten minutes everyday is more important than an hour every week, and the simplest technique is to focus on breathing,” he says.

Thompson says that exercise or vacations are only a temporary relief from stress.

“The more permanent way to get rid of stress is by living from within and from discovering who you really are and taking a step back and looking at yourself,” he says. “Perhaps enjoying humor because it is energizing and can also reveal a lot about you.”

Read the whole article: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/weekly/2012-09/21/content_15772409.htm

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From Pressure to Impetus by Scientific Management – RMG CEO on Economic Daily

依靠科学管理 化“压力”为“动力”

浙江音乐调频动听968官方微博8月1日凌晨在新浪微博上发出一条信息:我们的主持人郭梦秋于7月31日晚突发心梗,经医院抢救无效辞世,年仅25岁。网上迅速转载了这条消息,网友们发出呼吁,现在的年轻人很多都处于亚健康状态,经常熬夜无疑会增加心梗的风险。许多人将死因归罪于压力大。

作为一名长期从事专业职业咨询的专家、罗迈国际商务咨询有限公司首席执行官潘瑞宝对记者谈到:“事实上,压力对人和工作是有好处的,一个人的成功在很大程度上得益于科学的压力管理,但是,对抗不是好的方法,应该学会如何利用好压力。”他认为,在中国经济快速发展的阶段,每个人只要愿意工作,就能找到很多好的工作机会,因此,这种压力不算是真正的压力。在欧美国家,经济上升的时代已经过去,人们害怕失业,找不到工作才是最大的压力。

潘瑞宝说,压力是一种旅行,是身体的一种反应。他说,压力不是一种想象出来的疾病,而是身体“战备状态”的反应,这是当意识到某种情形,或者某个人,或者某件事情具有潜在的威胁性和紧张状态的时候做出的反应。压力也可以视为一种由挫折、失败所造成的反应,这种反应需要一定的时间去缓解,需要他人抚慰与适当休息。

“事实上,在这个竞争激烈的社会中,每个人都会面临着各种压力。因此,懂得减压的人才懂得工作。那么怎样处理压力?”潘瑞宝说,最有益的方式就是心态,每天每时都要给自己的身心放个假。另外,减少工作中的压力,最基本的一条是选择一个适合自己性格特点并能发挥自身长处和有共同价值观的单位。当你做一份喜欢的工作时,就不会感到有很大的压力。即使工作很辛苦,也会把压力变为动力。

潘瑞宝认为,要实现有效减压目标,仅靠个人自我调节是远远不够的,企业单位以及国家政府相关部门都应该共同参与,探讨切实可行的方案。用人单位要减轻员工的工作负担,注重压力管理工作。不仅要依照相关法律法规制定管理制度,保证员工切身合法权益,还要关注员工的心理健康,利用空余时间开展文化娱乐活动,活跃工作氛围,促进人际关系的和谐发展。这样一方面可以提高员工的工作积极性,另一方面可以减轻工作压力。

Read the whole article: http://paper.ce.cn/jjrb/html/2012-08/24/content_127677.htm

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Top Ten stressful Jobs in China – RMG on Financial World

日前中信证券(600030)传出:一位负责法务的员工因脑溢血不治去世,年仅34岁。职场精英英年早逝使人不禁联想到近来在媒体上频频爆出的过劳死新闻,一个个鲜活的生命在高压工作下走向了亚健康,更甚者则是使人扼腕的死亡。职场人工作压力大,熬夜加班是常有的事,工作时间过长、劳动强度加重、心理压力过大而导致精疲力尽,引起身体潜藏的疾病急速恶化,为“过劳死”埋下伏笔。

据报道:日本每年约有1万人因过劳而猝死。根据世界卫生组织调查统计,在美国、英国、日本、澳大利亚等地都有过劳死流行率记载;而“过劳死”一词是近15年来才被医学界正式命名。“过劳死”是指在非生理的劳动过程中,劳动者的正常工作规律和生活规律遭到破坏,体内疲劳蓄积并向过劳状态转移,使血压升高、动脉硬化加剧,进而出现致命的状态。而近年来在中国,“过劳死”已经威胁到一线职工并向白领阶层蔓延。事实上,过劳死在我们身边也越来越多。据统计,在30岁至50岁英年早逝的人群中;95.7%的人死于因过度疲劳引起的致命疾病。

过劳死频发的职业也有迹可循,这些高压职业中日复一日的紧绷生活摧毁了他们的健康,使职场人疲于应对。罗迈国际为您总结了十大高压职业,你的职业在其中么?

1.公司高管:

他们不仅要为一整个企业的运营负责,而且在股东和董事会的命令下工作,必须保持利润。这份工作必须懂得足够多的商业知识,并且了解市场和行业发展趋势。此外,他们还得做出各种决策,雇佣谁,炒了谁,在哪里开张,在哪里关张。在经济环境好的时候,企业高管们日子还好过些,一旦遇到的经济危机,他们就得为企业各项的指标衰退而买单。事实上,他们也无法掌握自己的命运。

2005年网易公司沉痛对外宣布公司代理首席执行官孙德棣于9月18日辞世。根据网易在纳斯达克的资料显示,孙德棣死时年仅37岁。此外还有同仁堂(600085)少掌门张生瑜 ,38岁突发心脏病逝世; 大中电器总经理胡凯,52岁心脏病突发;爱立信中国总裁杨迈,54岁,跑步机上突发心梗辞世。名单上的每一位,都是成功的社会精英,拥有无可限量的美好前景,但都因为劳累,绷断了生命之弦,在人生的黄金年华便早早逝去,不由人不扼腕长叹。

2.财务/会计:

面对的工作事无巨细,包括报销、票据截止的汇总,以及账务盘点、做报表、制定财务规划等,劳动强度大且要求严苛,一丁点儿的失误都可能造成巨大损失。而且财务人员面对的都是数字、报表,本来就容易造成心理饱和、疲惫。另外,涉及到资金流动,财务部与其他部门的沟通压力也很大。

2011年4月普华永道会计师事务所审计部门一名入职仅半年的员工由于过度劳累引发急性脑膜炎,不治身亡。这名员工为交大毕业的硕士研究生,2010年刚入职,在审计一组工作。她曾患病毒性感冒,但由于工作较忙,并没有好好休息,等持续高烧时才去医院就诊,最终诱发急性脑膜炎,不幸去世。

3.销售人员:

不稳定的工资,结果的巨大压力,以及冗长的工作时间都使其成为一个高压的职业。业绩考评加剧了竞争,对客户和人脉也有很高的要求。此外,应酬多,对身体也是不小的压力。

2010年9月上海市一企业销售部经理38岁的刘先生突然胸腔剧烈绞痛,被紧急送进新桥医院全军心血管病研究所。但是经过一个小时的抢救,依然没能挽回他的生命。据了解,刘先生是销售部的一个片区业务主管,工作能力和业绩突出,并被提拔为副经理。由于肩上的担子重了,加班赶任务几乎天天都有,没有黄金周、没有双休日,生活完全紊乱,随时处于焦虑与疲惫之中,不胜酒力的他还要经常应酬。在3天3夜的紧急加班后,刘先生心脏猝死。

4.理财顾问:

一般从业半年到1年的基金/保险顾问,可能因人脉耗尽面临淘汰。从业3年以上的人员则面临升职压力。因为要想晋升,就要保持业绩的持续增长。最后是来自大客户的压力,他们会对理财顾问的服务进行评估。因此他们需要为别人的财务负责,而他们对市场无能为力。当顾客赔钱时,他们会感到愧疚,可能经常会有人对他们大呼小叫。

5.建筑师:

建筑设计师在旁人看或许是种浪漫职业,实质压力大,工作繁重,不容差错,是个严肃职业。建筑设计师职责包含很广:建筑造型,内部功能分区,建筑材料,色彩,结构,协调水暖电,建筑周边的空间安排,景观设置。需要广阔的知识面以及丰富的实践经验,以及不断的更新进步。而在每一个项目之中,都需要付出无数心血,熬夜加班在所难免。

曾任北京市建筑设计研究院副总建筑师、体育建筑工作室主任的王兵先生于2011年6月23日清晨因病去世,享年47岁。1987年毕业于清华大学建筑系。从2000年到北京奥运会举行,他曾在北京成功的申办和举办奥运会过程中做出了突出的贡献。但其实一直在巨大的压力下苦苦支撑,奥运开幕的当天他就住进了医院,最终早早离开了人世。

6.医务人员:

医生可能被要求在非常不方便的时候工作,很多手术要数小时才能完成。手术要求极度的精确和对细节的关注,还要快速做出可能关乎病人生死的决定。而且,提高的医疗差错的保险成本也是很多医生压力大的原因之一。医患关系紧张,也是医护人员面临的一大问题。另外,医生的工作时间很紧张。如果做到了主治医师,不仅要管多个床位、还要上门诊、急诊,有的还要担任科研、教学方面的任务;获得课题、晋升职称等都是压力的来源。

2010年12月24日,台大医院证实精神内科主治医生陈至全日前被发现卧倒家中,疑似过劳死,引起了网友的争相关注。早在10月底,台大医院也曾传出医生曾胜弘晕倒在办公室走廊,甚至一度停止心跳的消息,这些不禁让人质疑,医生这个曾令人羡慕不已的高薪职业,何时变成了令人同情的高危险人群。台大医院相继爆出医生疑似过劳的新闻,让众人看到这个职业光鲜背后的无奈,有台媒爆料,医生早上7点就得参加科里的 “晨会”,9点开始看诊,名医可能要看到晚上都看不完,而外科医生则常常是要彻夜开刀,疲惫不堪。

7.人力资源主管:

人力资源部要做所有员工的绩效评估、奖金分配、调薪计划以及员工满意度调查等工作,对于员工激励以及培养员工工作热情有着非常大的意义,对脑力以及体力都提出了很高的要求。

另外人力资源主管身负招聘任务以及人事权,也容易带来人际关系上的紧张,对于沟通能力要求颇高。在公司裁人时,或是员工流失的情况中,则会夹在老板和员工之间,左右为难。

8. IT程序员:

一方面,程序员的工作强度之大,是一般人难以承受的 。程序员的生活普遍没有规律,特别是在关键的开发期间,每人从早上9点工作到晚上12点,有的甚至吃住在工作室。如此,一段有限的时间方能完成整个项目。

另一方面,软件开发中所用到的技术,大多更新换代非常频繁。这么快的更新速度,要求程序员必须有良好的创新能力和学习能力。很多程序员在30岁以后将不具备这种能力,只有面临淘汰。何况IT行业人才辈出,长江后浪推前浪,无疑将加速这种”优胜劣汰”的机制。因此,IT程序员除了工作上的加班时间,还必须拿出许多精力私下充电学习。

“百度地图”一名技术研发人员,在上岗仅有四个月后,因心脏衰竭而亡。据其生前发表的微博发现,死者工作繁忙,曾48小时不休不眠,一众网友直指其是“过劳死”。此外,还有一度在网上传得沸沸扬扬的华为员工过劳死事件,足见IT行业在高压力的职业中首当其冲。

9.记者/编辑:

从“无冕之王”到“新闻民工”,记者这行业也在剥掉“神秘的面纱”。在国际上,记者甚至已经被列入了高危险行业。另外,新闻求新求快,高强度工作同时考验记者及编辑的脑力与体力。尤其是无处不在的竞争,更是时时让新闻从业者绷紧了神经。

此外记者也是在前线工作的人群之一,因为工作的原因他们必须经常进入边远的、危险的地方。许多人可能会一天工作24个小时,当新闻来的时候,摄影记者必须在尽可能短的时间内出发并且做好长时间战斗的准备。

原《时尚》资深编辑、媒体知名人士原小娟就因胃癌永远离开了这个世界,据悉从2005年年底她开始承担大量工作,她在博客里也写到“工作量基本是一个普通编辑的三倍,这还不包括辅导新编辑做稿子,一半的时间厚厚一本杂志有三分之一的稿子都是我一个人做的”。而她将自己的病因归结为睡眠严重不足、饮食极不规律、精神压力太大。无疑是新闻从业者高压工作的真实写照。

10.行政人员:

行政工作事无巨细,考核评比烦不胜扰,又对协调和工作能力要求高。常常在老板既要节约成本又要做出好效果的要求下,绞尽脑汁做方案。这是一个竞争激烈的领域,必须高效完成各方面的琐碎工作。每个细节都马虎不得,各个方面都必须照顾到。高级行政管理人员还需要在其他领域有优秀的表现,而且每天还要做出很多关乎公司和职员未来的决定,压力非常之大。

一串串令人触目惊心的事实,以及令人悲痛的逝者,都不断提醒着职场人警惕亚健康和过劳死。有专家指出:管理好自己的身体健康也是一门智慧,并且是伴随人一生的长期工程。悲剧的发生不只因为难以承受的巨大的工作压力和负荷,更重要的是人们透支了自己的健康,忽视了身体发出的危险信号。这种“前三十年用身体换金钱,后三十年用金钱买健康”的观念实为祸及自身的导火索,最终导致陷入病痛的折磨。而在被透支的生命面前,成就和金钱都显得苍白无力。往往在健康受损之时,人们才会反思身体是本钱。关怀自己,适时停下忙碌的脚步,才能走得更远。

无论做怎样的工作,职场压力都是客观存在的,关键在于如何应对。面对hold不住的高压职业,试着调节自身,找到工作和生活的平衡。工作不是生活的唯一追求,更不应成为生命的负累。无论付出多少努力,追根究底都是为了更好地生活。对于职场人而言,平衡压力,更要平衡内心,“压力山大”,也别奴役自己的幸福生活。(作者系罗迈国际CEO 潘瑞宝)

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