New Work Pressure Interview Preparation Guide

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When job and workplace pressure threatens to overwhelm you, there are simple steps you can take to regain control over yourself and the situation. Your new found ability to maintain a sense of self-control in pressure situations will often be well-received by coworkers, managers, and subordinates alike, which can lead to better relationships at work. Here are some suggestions for reducing job pressure by prioritizing and organizing your responsibilities.

Even if you are in a job where the environment has grown increasingly stressful, you can retain a large measure of self-control and self-confidence by understanding and practicing emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage and use your emotions in positive and constructive ways. When it comes to satisfaction and success at work, emotional intelligence matters just as much as intellectual ability. Emotional intelligence is about communicating with others in ways that draw people to you, overcome differences, repair wounded feelings and defuse tension and pressure.

Four Ways to Dispel work pressure:
☛ Take time away
☛ Talk it over with someone
☛ Connect with others at work
☛ Look for humor in the situation

When pressure is mounting at work, try to take a quick break and move away from the stressful situation. Take a stroll outside the workplace if possible, or spend a few minutes meditating in the break room. Physical movement or finding a quiet place to regain your balance can quickly reduce pressure.

When used appropriately, humor is a great way to relieve pressure in the workplace. When you or those around you start taking things too seriously, find a way to lighten the mood by sharing a joke or funny story.

Developing friendships with some of your co-workers can help buffer you from the negative effects of stress. Remember to listen to them and offer support when they are in need as well.

In some situations, simply sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone you trust can help reduce pressure. Talking over a problem with someone who is both supportive and empathetic can be a great way to let off steam and relieve pressure.

If you are always running late, set your clocks and watches fast and give yourself extra time. If your desk is a mess, file and throw away the clutter, just knowing where everything is saves time and cuts stress. Make to do lists and cross off items as you accomplish them. Plan your day and stick to the schedule, you will feel less overwhelmed.

When pressure at work interferes with your ability to perform in your job, manage your personal life, or adversely impacts your health, it's time to take action. Start by paying attention to your physical and emotional health. When your own needs are taken care of, you're stronger and more resilient to pressure. The better you feel, the better equipped you'll be to manage work pressure without becoming overwhelmed.
Taking care of yourself does not require a total lifestyle overhaul. Even small things can lift your mood, increase your energy, and make you feel like you are back in the driver's seat. Take things one step at a time and as you make more positive lifestyle choices, you will soon notice a reduction in your pressure levels, both at home and at work.

☛ Provide opportunities for social interaction among employees.
☛ Establish a zero-tolerance policy for harassment.
☛ Make management actions consistent with organizational values.

☛ Give workers opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their jobs.
☛ Consult employees about scheduling and work rules.
☛ Be sure the workload is suitable to employee's abilities and resources, avoid unrealistic deadlines.
☛ Show that individual workers are valued.
☛ Offer rewards and incentives.
☛ Praise good work performance, both verbally and officially, through schemes such as Employee of the Month.
☛ Provide opportunities for career development.
☛ Promote an "entrepreneurial" work climate that gives employees more control over their work.

☛ Share information with employees to reduce uncertainty about their jobs and futures.
☛ Clearly define employee's roles and responsibilities.
☛ Make communication friendly and efficient, not mean spirited or petty.

It is in a manager's best interest to keep pressure levels in the workplace to a minimum. Managers can act as positive role models, especially in times of high pressure, by following the tips outlined in this article. If a respected manager can remain calm in pressure work situations, it is much easier for his or her employees to also remain calm.
Additionally, there are a number of organizational changes that managers and employers can make to reduce workplace pressure. These include:
☛ Improve communication
☛ Consult your employees
☛ Cultivate a friendly social climate

Many things at work are beyond our control particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.

If you see the downside of every situation and interaction, you will find yourself drained of energy and motivation. Try to think positively about your work, avoid negative-thinking co-workers and pat yourself on the back about small accomplishments, even if no one else does.

There are five key skills that you need to master in order to raise your emotional intelligence and manage pressure at work:
☛ Realize when you are stressed
☛ Stay connected to your internal emotional experience
☛ Recognize and effectively use nonverbal cues and body language
☛ Develop the capacity to meet challenges with humor
☛ Resolve conflict positively

No project, situation, or decision is ever perfect, so trying to attain perfection on everything will simply add unnecessary pressure to your day. When you set unrealistic goals for yourself or try to do too much, you are setting yourself up to fall short. Aim to do your best, no one can ask for more than that.

Many of us make work pressure worse with negative thoughts and behavior. If you can turn around these self-defeating habits, you will find employer-imposed stress easier to handle:
☛ Resist perfectionism
☛ Clean up your act
☛ Flip your negative thinking
☛ Do not try to control the uncontrollable

Resolving conflict in healthy, constructive ways can strengthen trust between people and relieve workplace pressure and tension. When handling emotionally charged situations, stay focused in the present by disregarding old hurts and resentments, connect with your emotions and hear both the words and the nonverbal cues being used. If a conflict can not be resolved, choose to end the argument, even if you still disagree.

There is no better pressure buster than a hearty laugh and nothing reduces pressure quicker in the workplace than mutually shared humor. But, if the laugh is at someone else's expense, you may end up with more rather than less pressure.

In many cases, what we say is less important than how we say it or the other nonverbal signals we send out, such as eye contact, facial expression, tone of voice, posture, gesture and touch. Your nonverbal messages can either produce a sense of interest, trust, and desire for connection or they can generate confusion, distrust and pressure. You also need to be able to accurately read and respond to the nonverbal cues that other people send you at work.

You should stay connected to your internal emotional experience, so you can appropriately manage your own emotions. Your moment to moment emotions influence your thoughts and actions, so pay attention to your feelings and factor them into your decision making at work. If you ignore your emotions you will not be able to fully understand your own motivations and needs or to communicate effectively with others.

Recognize your particular stress response and become familiar with sensual cues that can rapidly calm and energize you. The best way to reduce pressure quickly is through the senses: through sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. But each person responds differently to sensory input, so you need to find things that are soothing to you.

Relationship management is the ability to inspire, influence and connect to others and manage conflict.

The ability to control your emotions and behavior and adapt to changing circumstances.