Unfortunately for most companies, their work force is under such stress, they are none of these. At the most basic level, the more stressed-out and depleted a person is, the less that person cares about excellence and innovation. As mentioned earlier, he or she is just trying to survive. But the roots of the problem go far deeper. At the most fundamental psychological and neurobiological levels, stress compromises a person's intellectual and emotional capacity.
Stress makes people less intellectually and interpersonally intelligent.
Research shows that when people are in high-stress situations over which they have no control, their thought process becomes more rigid, simplistic, and superficial. This is hardly the mind-set for innovation. Studies with humans shows that in high-stress situations in which they have no control, their ability to perform mental tasks and solve problems is diminished. Strong interpersonal skills and the kind of organizational synergy and customer loyalty they create are a tremendous source of intellectual capital. Again, many organizations fail miserably in this category also - and at a very steep price.