Coping with workplace stress

1. Coping with workplace stress

2. Housekeeping mobile phones break times toilets emergencies

3. Workshop overview At this workshop the following will be addressed: the nature and effects of stress the causes of excess workplace stress the symptoms of excess stress reasons why stress issues must be addressed methods of dealing with stress related problems

4. Workshop expectations What do you know about the topic? What do you need to know? What outcomes do you expect from this workshop?

5. Activity

6. Topic 1 Stress: any force or event that has an effect on the body or mind. • Some stress is good and a necessary part of life.

7. Necessary stress • Athletic achievement Tuning a violin

8. Good stress/ bad stress • ‘[Excess] Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realise that you haven’t fallen asleep yet.’ • (Anon)

9. Impact of inappropriate stress levels • High levels of absenteeism. • Increased attrition. • Poor work performance. • Low morale. • Low worker commitment. • Increased frequency of accidents. • Industrial relations difficulties. • Poor relationships with suppliers and customers. • Difficulty retaining good employees, at all levels.

10. Excess stress • Poor performance • Dysfunctional behaviour • Health problems Moderate stress • High performance • Job satisfaction • Involvement • Optimum performance Too little stress • Poor performance • Dysfunctional behaviour • Health problems Reactions Too little or too much stress can be harmful.

11. Activity

12. Topic 2 Excess stress

13. Stress factors • ‘One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.’ • (Bertrand Russell)

14. Peak performance Performanceand well being Under stimulation Over stimulation Constructive v destructive stress Stimulation Too little OptimumToo much • Human performance

15. Change and workplace stress

16. Reactions • Stress itself is not harmful – it is our reaction to stress/ stressors that causes illness or disease.

17. Activity

18. Topic 3

19. The cost of stress Stress related absenteeism directly costs Australian employers $10.11 billion a year. It costs the Australian economy approx. $14.81 billion a year. 3.2 days per worker are lost each year as a result of workplace stress. It is estimated that 1 in 3 adult workers suffer from moderate to extreme stress overload and are at risk of stress-related health problems. (www.medibank.com.au) • Hence the need to understand and manage stress responses.

20. Responding to requests

21. Delegate • ‘Delegating means letting others become the experts …’ • (Timothy Firnstahl)

22. Activity

23. Topic 4 • ‘Stress: the confusion created when one’s mind overrides the body’s basic desire to choke the living daylights out of some jerk who desperately deserves it.’ • (Anon)

24. Managing emotions

25. Cognitive restructuring ‘Don't let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries.’ (Astrid Alauda)

26. Handling the behaviour of others • Can you cope with the behaviour of others ?

27. Assertiveness • Negotiate for the purpose of fulfilling your needs- without overriding the needs of others.

28. Activity

29. Topic 5

30. Lower your stress levels at work

31. Relaxation • Important for mental and physical health.

32. Diet

33. Exercise

34. Sleep

35. Social support and networks

36. Relaxation techniques • ‘Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.’ • (EttyHillesum) • ‘There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them.’ • (Sylvia Plath)

37. Activity

38. Summary • Before leaving today please share: • 1 important thing you learned • 1 new practice you will undertake at work • 1 activity you enjoyed • Thankyou for your attendance and participation.

39. Two thoughts • ‘Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.’ • (Natalie Goldberg) • ‘Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.’ • (Richard Carlson)