Finding the Safe Stress Zone at Work

When you, as a leader, see these responses it is to your advantage to help your employees gain an understanding of what is actually happening. Here are the four most common reactions in every organization dealing with the stress:

• FLOODING is the tendency to “blow up”, yell, and repeat a statement, getting louder with each breath. There is a need to “drown out” the real reason for the upset and the individual is often overwhelmed with anger, fear, hurt, or sadness. The adrenaline rush gives lots of energy and the flooding can go on for hours, even days.

• DEFLECTING is the tendency to block the movement of a conversation or situation, force a change in direction and prevent anything with conflict to come to be discussed. During times of high stress deflectors often become obsessive compulsive and love to just do busy work. If there is a tense discussion the deflector will make a joke, or point to a dirt spot and make a fuss.

• INDULGING is the tendency to devote oneself entirely to a specific situation and never come up for air. There is a deviant pleasure in “wallowing” and suffering without let up. There is complaining about the effort and exhaustion and yet a delight in holding others captive, being the martyr and “doing for them.”