Managing the Pressures of Corporate Life

Each morning (or evening), as we head into the workplace, we are confronted by forces that can be considered opportunities or challenges. Opportunities can be exciting and yet stressful at the same time. And if not managed, they can turn into pressure-inducing challenges. These predicaments might present with different intensities and frequencies, but when the stressors pile up all at once, it can test a person’s resolve. So if you have some good coping skills when you have to face and overcome these trying times, it is a powerful thing. 

Most people tend to think of solution-focused coping strategies as the best way to manage stress. That is, address the problem and remove what seems to be causing them stress. Oh, if it could be that easy! But many times, it’s not as simple as that. Sometimes there are factors in our jobs, relationships, or lifestyles that present us with challenges out of our control. For those times, we need to practice emotional coping skills so we can alter our responses to specific stressors healthily and productively.

Stress has a way of worming its way into every aspect of our lives. And the workplace is no exception. It might not be as stressful as home life, but it does play a large part in our daily life. A survey paid for by Everest College showed that 83% of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress. The stress points may vary among industries and different roles, but one aspect that holds true for all is that unhealthy coping skills for stress can stall your career. 

There’s nothing like workplace stress to let you know if your coping skills are up to par or not. Even if you love your job, you can’t avoid encountering work-related stress from time to time. It could be a looming deadline or difficult co-workers or maybe even a boss asking you to do something you feel is unethical. Therefore, knowing how to cope in such situations effectively benefits not only your professional life but your personal life as well. Job stress can be all-consuming, But by developing coping skills to support your career growth, it doesn’t have to be.