How To Become A Stress Buster

How To Become A Stress Buster

Survey of 2,504 workers in

6 countries. Age of employees

reporting highest stress levels?

35 years or younger.

Source: Cincinnati Enquirer, December 3, 2005

Why This Subject Is ImportantWhy This Subject Is Important

Most-vulnerable to workplace stress,

according to Canadian executives?

Middle managers Source: Workforce Week newsletter, March 30, 2004

Why This Subject Is ImportantWhy This Subject Is Important

1. Identify the physical & emotional warning signs of stress.

2. Discover techniques to control/lower stress.

3. Learn how to balance the relationship between excess input (emotional, mental and physical) and productivity.

4. Explore why different people react differently to stress.

By the end of this session, you will:

Learning GoalsLearning Goals

Tight jaw, grinding teeth, sinus problemsNeck pain, back pain, heartburn, gut problems Leg pain, tightness of breathing, tight chest

Physical Stress Signs

Pressure: External events/circumstances triggering an internal reaction, which we call stress.

Brain sends 2 hormones to the adrenal gland.

The adrenal gland produces:Adrenalin. Good and bad: increases muscle tension

and blood pressure. “Fight or Flight.”Cortisone. Small amounts: repairs body and

suppresses immune reactions. Too much for too long: can cause serious problems.

Key Ideas and ApplicationKey Ideas and Application

The Good News:

Remove yourself from pressure and your kidneys will remove

excess adrenalin and cortisone from your blood.

Key Ideas and ApplicationKey Ideas and Application

The Bad News: If excess adrenalin and cortisone

remain in your system for too long, you are more susceptible to

disease, or worse.

Key Ideas and ApplicationKey Ideas and Application

Stress: A health issue

and a management issue

Key Ideas and ApplicationKey Ideas and Application

1.Too much or too little to do.

2.Lack of communication up and down the hierarchy.

3.Feeling unappreciated.

4.Inconsistent performance reviews.

5.Unclear expectations and roles.

6.Doubt – unclear organizational direction.

7.Vicious office politics that breed mistrust.

8.Too many interruptions.

Top 8 Sources Top 8 Sources of Stressof Stress

What are your biggest physical & emotional stress signs? How long have you had these? How do these signs impact you and others?

How do we reduce internal reactions?(Amanda’s techniques, meditation, exercise, prioritizing, mental (Amanda’s techniques, meditation, exercise, prioritizing, mental breaks, selfish breaks, etc.)breaks, selfish breaks, etc.)

How do we reduce external pressures? (Manage (Manage expectations, better planning, time management, delegation, expectations, better planning, time management, delegation, utilize resources, ask for help, etc.utilize resources, ask for help, etc.

Technique to control and lower stress

Technique to control and lower stress

Stress CurveStress Curve

High

Low

Pro

du

ctiv

ity

Low High

Optimum Performance

Sleep

Boredom

Increased Interest Stress

Anxiety

Panic

Collapse

Pressure/Stimulus

What strategies and tools can we use to intervene when we or others are on the downward slope?

• Review of progressReview of progress• EncouragementEncouragement• BreaksBreaks• Add resourcesAdd resources• Provide someone to helpProvide someone to help• Adjust deadlinesAdjust deadlines• training, practice runstraining, practice runs• building confidence levelsbuilding confidence levels• developing strong teamsdeveloping strong teams

Stress CurveStress Curve

Physical & Emotional Signs of StressTechniques to Control/Lower StressFour Stress Buster StrategiesBalance Between Input and Productivity

Review of Learning GoalsReview of Learning Goalsfeaturing Amanda Gore

And Finally …..And Finally …..