Today’s best managers know that having control over one’s job helps employees to buffer difficult demands of that job. Employees tend to cope with their job in two ways: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves solving difficult job problems. Employees would be problem-focused coping if they had the power to rearrange a lunch breach in order to meet a strict deadline. Emotion-focused coping refers to regulating emotional distress and discomfort and seeking emotional support. Expressing emotions and feelings to others can lead to empathy and support, which can help employees cope with difficult job demands.
Source: Daniels, K., Beesley, N., Cheyne, A., & Wimalasiri, V. 2008. Coping processes linking the demands-control-support model, affect, and risky decisions at work. Human Relations, 61, 845-874.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
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