The Positive Side of Stress for Organizations

Abstract

Whilst many dispute that stress can be positive, if stress is understood as a reaction to pressure then, at optimum levels of pressure, it can be positive. The authors refer to positive stress as “eu-stress”, that is, it can be stimulating and helpful. Excessive negative stress is referred to as “hyper-stress”, which is disabling, and after long periods turns to “distress”, which can be life threatening. This was discussed in Chapter 3 and will be discussed again in Chapter 18.