We’re regularly told that stress is bad for you and you should avoid it at all costs. That’s true in so many ways, but there is also an argument for stress as a motivator too. There is a very fine line between these situations however, and knowing the signs of stress is vital.
In a modern office, targets and goals are commonplace. These help employees stay on track, and allow the business to be productive and profitable. It’s vital that targets are realistic, because when they’re not the bad type of stress can creep in.
Check out this infographic by Precision Nutrition for a closer look at good and bad stress
Source: www.precisionnutrition.com/good-stress-bad-stress-infographic
As you can see, it’s about finding your personal sweet spot, but do targets actually motivate, or stress you out completely?
Employees sitting at their office desks should not feel under extreme pressure to hit a target that is in no way realistic. They should also never feel that they have to hit them alone, and this is why team working is such a positive contribution to an office environment.
Working tirelessly behind an office screen in order to hit a deadline might inspire greatness in one person, and stress in another. To avoid this, all targets should be:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Timely
Yes, targets should be SMART! When targets follow this guideline, stress shouldn’t become and issue and motivation should be the overriding theme.
Do you find targets motivating, or do they cause a stress reaction in you?