Stress is a demand placed on the system which may be positive or negative in impact. The supervisor must strive to help his subordinates achieve a balance between too little and too much stress. A number of factors have been found to contribute to individual perceptions of and responses to stressors (job-related, personal, long-term, or short-term). These include physical health, social support, preemployment experiences, personal habits, and personality traits. (e.g., type-A and type-B). Sources of stress may be related to the individual, the job, or the personal life of an officer. The supervisor should direct subordinates in a manner that avoids unnecessary job or agency-related stress and should be aware of the warning signs of stress overload. Of the possible strategies for managing stress overloads, the best option is to increase the person's ability to survive in the threatening environment. This can be done by reorganizing oneself, managing the personal environment, changing attitudes, and building up physical strength and endurance. Progress checks and a comprehensive examination are included. For other lessons in this series, see NCJ 103000-103004 and NCJ 103006-103008.