Workplace Stress And Challenge Stress

According to Work Stress Survey, conducted by Harris Interactive in 2013, 8 in 10 Americans are stressed about their jobs. The result might be upsetting, though not all stresses should be treated as treats to the workplace. Conversely, some stressors can serve as motivators to employees. Stresses can be identified as either challenge stresses or hindrance stresses, and they are different in many ways. In terms of effect on employees, challenge stress often trigger positive emotions and enhance motivation, while hindrance stress tend to raise negative emotions. In terms of employee development, challenge stress has a long-term benefit in helping build the employee’s skills, conversely hindrance stress has little to no benefit to the employee in the long term. Simply stated, in most cases, only hindrance stresses are harmful to the employees work outcomes. Stressful demands that most people perceive as opportunities for learning, growth and achievement, are challenge stresses. These demands trigger positive emotions, and motivate …show more content…
Studies had found that employees with certain personality traits demonstrate higher customer services performances than others. Ekinici and Dawes (2009) studied the relationships between frontline service employees personality traits, interaction quality, and consumer satisfaction, concluded that, extroversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness had a strong effect on interaction quality and consumer satisfaction. Other studies also support this finding. Liao and Chuang (2004) recommended that managers should consider applicant’s levels of conscientiousness and extraversion during employment selection procedures, to improve customer service performance. Hurley agreed as well, “Personality does influence customer service and that superior service provides tend to be higher in extroversion and agreeableness” (Hurley, 1998, p.