Stress and Performance
There is a relationship between stress and performance. According to the Inverted U-shaped Theory, everybody has his/her own optimal stress level. Figure 1 shows the relationship between stress and the quality of performance when we are under short-term stress. When stress is too low, we may become bored, lack of concentration and motivation and hence result in poor performance. When stress is too high, our performance also suffer because we may be depressed and out of control. However, at the moderate level of stress, there is a zone of optimal performance. We may be sufficiently aroused to perform well without being overstressed.
Figure 1. The relationship between stress and performance
When we are under long-term stress, we may be fatigued, exhausted, and ill, or even broken down. Figure 2 shows the four major stages. (I) At the beginning, as we encounter challenges with plenty of energy, we will perform positively and effectively. (II) After a period of time, we may begin to feel tired, anxious and frustrated and hence affecting the quality of our performance. (III) With continuing high stress, we may feel a sense of failure and may become ill more often, and our organization of work will deteriorate too. (IV) When high stress persists without a suitable relief, we may experience depression, burnout and breakdown.
