What is Performance Stress? Stress caused by the anxiety of performance is one of the most common causes of stress in a workplace.
In the professional scheme of things employees are constantly dictated by a prearranged set of benchmarks.
And if they fail to meet them, their careers might suffer.
This can be a very stressful situation since there is a perpetual pressure of competition and performance.
This demands endless efforts of proving oneself to the standards of the company.
This happens especially when one has to make an important presentation or attend a crucial meeting.
Many a times, before the presentation actually starts, one feels queasy in the stomach.
At times, the pressure is so high that one's performance takes an actual drop.
Some are incapable of dealing with this kind of constant pressure and stress, thus it is important for such individuals that they practice stress management techniques to be at par with the standards of performance at workplace.
Planning for Performance Whether the project is small or big, a good performance is always vital.
Performance planning is one of the most definite ways of ensuring a satisfying performance, since planning traces out for you what you need to, how you need to doand how much time you should be ideally spending on a task.
This way the resources are put to proper use and there is better productivity.
The following are some key tips for performance planning, based on the physical and mental aspect: • Ensure you have back-up plans in case everything does not go as initially planned.
• Travel arrangements, if any, should be taken care of beforehand.
• Make sure you have all the required resources before you start.
Assessing your Performance Even if you have a record of good performance, you should always aim for improvement, this makes sure that you put in your best effort all the time and this results in a high-quality performance.
This way you always know that you can re-assess your own standards as per your wish or the demands of the situation, hence fight stress.
So the key-word here is 'self-assessment'.
Cultivating the right attitude It is important that you have the correct approach to the work so that you can regulate the stress level when things get tough.
Here are some tips which can help you overcome performance stress: • Take criticisms sportingly.
Instead of letting yourself get upset over the criticisms, you must utilize them for self-improvement and consequently, develop your performance.
• Don't strive for perfection.
Although it is a good stimulus for better performance, it can increase stress level and slow down the overall project.
So a proper and adequate focus is vital.
• A little competition is healthy but constantly comparing yourself with your co-workers can be very stressful.
You must, instead, concentrate on your performance and how to improve it.