765 Managing Workplace Stress

Stress as a Continuum

Positive Stress (Eustress)

Positive stress, also known as eustress, occurs when challenges are viewed as opportunities instead of threats.

In these situations, employees believe they have the skills, knowledge, and resources to succeed. As a result, stress becomes motivating and energizing rather than harmful.

Unlike negative stress, which can drain energy and lower performance, eustress helps workers stay focused, alert, and engaged. It pushes them to reach their goals while maintaining a sense of confidence and control.

Symptoms

The symptoms below are signs that stress is being channeled as energy and focus to meet challenges effectively.

• Increased focus and alertness
• Boost of energy or motivation
• Feeling of excitement or anticipation
• Greater confidence in abilities
• Improved problem-solving and creativity
• Sense of accomplishment after completing tasks

Possible Outcomes

The outcomes below not only benefit individual employees but also contribute to a safer, more productive, and supportive work environment.

• Higher productivity: A project manager facing a tight deadline uses the pressure as motivation to stay organized and complete tasks ahead of schedule.
• Improved safety practices: A lab technician double-checks procedures more carefully during a high-pressure experiment, reducing the chance of an accident.
• More teamwork and cooperation: A retail team works together during a holiday rush, supporting each other to serve customers quickly and effectively.
• Better morale and job satisfaction: A teacher successfully manages a challenging class activity and feels proud of both the outcome and their teaching skills.
• Professional growth: An engineer accepts a difficult assignment, learns new software, and gains confidence to take on future leadership roles.

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