When Small Stresses Lead to Big Problems

It's easy to see how big stresses at work or home -- like layoffs,
illnesses, or even a complex and important project -- cause anxiety
too spike. But sometimes the stresses that cause the most hard are
the tiny, everyday ones that build up over time into a much bigger
problem because we don't take the time to recognize and manage our
reactions to them. Former HBR editor Karen Dillon and Babson
College professor Rob Cross studied the most common types of
"microstress" and the ways in which they impact individuals, teams,
and organizations. They explain why, if left unchecked, microstress
can lead to mistakes, burnout, damaged relationships, and poor
mental and physical health. But they also offer advice for better
handling it -- and helping others to do the same. Dillon and Cross
wrote the book The Microstress Effect and the HBR article
"The Hidden Toll of Microstress."