How do you manage your stress?
"Life is full of stressful situations. But you should never let the stress get the best of you. If you respond to the stress and not the situation, you end up more stressed and less able to solve the problem. I try to identify and diffuse stress triggers immediately and explore the reality behind the perception that triggered that stress response. That helps me overcome stress or task paralysis and allows me more flexibility to develop a plan. Stressful situations are sometimes avoidable, sometimes not. But gaining insights on how to limit their frequency or duration is how I cope with stress. I deal with stress by being mindful to respond rather than react."
Any hiring process is costly for any employer, considering the payroll hours invested in screening applicants, interviewing, onboarding, and training. If they're short-staffed, other employees may pick up the slack and burn out faster. That affects morale and decreases productivity. So it is incumbent on those handling the rigorous selection process to do their due diligence in ensuring the person they choose.
This question evaluates how well you can handle stress. How you answer this question will offer insights into how you cope with stress at work or home. If an employee is stressed at work, they'll burn out faster. They might bring more stress home from work, not sleep well, and not perform at their best. A person who is stressed in their personal life will often bring their issues into work, negatively affecting their performance. So they're ascertaining your natural ability to balance these two spheres. So this question aims to reveal how you achieve balance without being governed by chaos.
This question aims to gauge how well you cope with stress. The assessment vendor will screen you on your non-verbal cues, facial expressions, eye movements, body movements, tells and posture, and the nuances of tone and choice of words. More often than not, when a person recalls stressful situations, they'll revert to the emotional state of stress of that situation. Consider this when you aim to convey that you keep calm under pressure. Practice and meditate on those moments where you acted decisively and drove success for your teams. Reflecting on your best moments, convey how you manage your stress in those best of times. Focus on the pride of that moment and let your confidence and emotional maturity shine.
When one is able to manage their stress rather than allowing their stress to govern them, they are able to remain productive, keep up the pace, and work well under pressure. Here's what JP Morgan Chase says about their culture in this regard; "Eventually, it all comes down to people. Creating a winning team and self-sustaining culture takes hard work, and there is no substitute for it. Teams do not win because they have a new stadium or the most attractive uniforms. Some of the best teams do not even have the most talented individual athletes. Teams succeed because they are disciplined, work well together, execute consistently and have a passion to win."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
Stress is, at the scientific level, cortisol. It is not inherently bad, in fact, we would not be here without it. I know these things because I was a bio major. That being said, stress is a tool. It is good for motivating us and keeping us alert. Too much is not good, it can lead to poor decisions and poor health. It is important to eat well daily, breathe properly, be in motion, etc
Marcie's Feedback
Great! It sounds like you have a good perspective on stress and recognize that it can be a positive if kept under control. How exactly do you alleviate stress? Do you work out, listen to music, or socialize with friends? Talk more about this so the interviewer knows that you will be capable of handling their high-stress work environment. Good job!
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