Rlchard Pettlnger

Management style

Expertise in stress management must be capable of delivery in its environment and context. It therefore requires reinforcement with an overall management style that is capable of recognizing and attending to sources and causes of stress, and willingness to deal with them when they do become apparent. This transcends classical management styles. Effective stress management is equally as possible in autocracies as it is in more participative organizations.

Indeed, enlightened or benevolent despots have always taken the view that their staff are the key to long-term effectiveness, success, and profitability. Julius Caesar never asked his troops to do anything that he was not prepared to do. If they rode, so did he; if they walked, he did so also.

Forest Mars, the founder of Mars Confectionery Inc., made regular inspections and tours of his factories and warehouses to ensure that conditions were good and stress free as far as possible.

These individuals had strong personal, as well as professional and occupational, identity. Stress is much more prevalent in organizations where this strength of identity and cohesion does not exist, and is

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therefore a likely feature of unconnected, unintegrated role and hierar- chical cultures and structures. Those who work in these organizations are much more susceptible to stress-related illnesses, and those who manage in these consequently need much greater overall awareness, understanding, capability, and willingness to address it.

Whether authoritarian, participative or democratic, stress manage- ment is certain to be much more effective if managers and supervisors are visible, and therefore physically aware on a regular basis of the activities of their departments, divisions, and functions. Problems are raised earlier, and are therefore easier to address and resolve. Serious problems such as bullying, victimization, harassment, and discrimina- tion are nipped in the bud rather than allowed to fester. Overall, general confidence is also raised, both in this aspect of management and in terms of enhanced mutual respect.