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Stress Makes us Stupid Why Managing Stress is a Strategic Issue

Stress Makes us Stupid Why Managing Stress is a Strategic Issue. Helen Whitten. Losing our heads is not good for business!. Stress Causes us to Lose our Heads and impacts all areas of the workplace. Situation. Emotions. Thoughts. Behaviour. Decision-making Communicating Procrastinating.

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Stress Makes us Stupid Why Managing Stress is a Strategic Issue

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  1. Stress Makes us Stupid Why Managing Stress is a Strategic Issue Helen Whitten

  2. Losing our heads is not good for business!

  3. Stress Causes us to Lose our Headsand impacts all areas of the workplace Situation Emotions Thoughts Behaviour Decision-making Communicating Procrastinating Anxiety Anger “This shouldn’t happen - I can’t cope”

  4. 5 Topics for the Session

  5. It’s Addictive • Mobile phones, Blackberries • emails, the internet and global economy • Delayed trains, planes, traffic jams • Partners, family, friends, children • Deadlines, pressure for the bottom-line • Change initiatives, redundancy packages • And aspirations … • The race of work and life = the need for inclusion and significance

  6. 1. Wiring the Brain: The Habit Trap “I can’t manage this situation”

  7. 2. Thinking Habits can cause stress “I can’t manage this situation” Stress hormones released

  8. “I can - it may work” 3. Switching the Circuitry “I can’t - it won’t work”

  9. 4. Accentuate the Positive and New Behaviour, Eliminate the Old and the Negative! “I can - it will work” Endorphins released

  10. What addictive habits existin your organisation thatmight cause stress?

  11. Stress makes us stupid – and sick

  12. Stress Makes us Stupid: The Fight or Flight Response Brain perceives threat - Hippocampus activates Pupils dilate for better vision Adrenalin or Noradrenalin released Brain dulls sense of pain Cortisol released Lungs take in more oxygen Blood pressure and heart rate soar Digestion halts Liver pours out glucose Circulatory system diverts blood from non-essential functions to muscles and brain Fat reserves processed for energy = Strength or Speed

  13. Symptoms of Stress Headaches Dizziness Colds and flu Insomnia Nervous twitching, nailbiting Neck, shoulder pain Breathless Palpitations and chest pain Indigestion,heart burn and stomach problems Butterflies Urinary malfunction High Blood Pressure Irritable Bowel Syndrome Sweating Psoriasis and skin problems Loss of Libido Fainting

  14. 7-11 Breath Training Getting enough blood in the head to solve the problem! • Breathing becomes deregulated under stress • Build up of CO2 upsets body chemistry binding oxygen molecules too tightly • Red blood cells do not release enough oxygen to the brain and body cells • Impacts emotions, thinking, body language, voice tone and long-term health

  15. The Strategic Saboteur –stress and burnout affects yourhigh achievers

  16. “Have you ever noticed thatanybody driving slower than you is an idiot and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?”George Carlin The manager as driver?!

  17. Notice Behaviour Changes • Lack of self-care - increased alcohol consumption, bad diet. hair and clothes • Memory loss, mistakes, poor concentration • Anxious, demoralized, lack of confidence/esteem • Over-working, long hours • Impatient and intolerant • Constant fatigue, tearful, explosive • Burnout

  18. The Stupidity Factor! What symptoms do you notice in your workplace? ...And what are the consequences?

  19. Meeting the needs of your human resource Maintaining motivation without risking burnout Peak performance tired effective Motivation Stress indecisive creative fuzzy mind motivated reduced efficiency competent burdened interested irritable comfortable anxious bored fatigued burnout unaware Stress occurs when perceived pressure on an individual exceeds ability to cope - so provide the skills to help people cope

  20. Motivation=supporting preferences HBDI Herrmann Thinking Preference Model

  21. Stress Proofing: Practical methods to get the most out of your talent pool

  22. Challenge Negative Thought Patterns • “Everything I do goes wrong!” • “No-one appreciates what I do.” • “I always get things wrong.” • “The management …will never get it right.” Thoughts drive feelings

  23. Switch Stations:Help yourself and others to think positively • What DOES work? • In what way IS work life improving? • What IS going right? • Who DOES support you?

  24. Relaxation and finding calm

  25. Things I need to do to be at my best …. …. …. Keys to Effective Performance

  26. Creating success in 2008Identify actions to enable people to keep their heads Language Physiology Practices +priorities Culture

  27. Mental Focus- Focus on What MattersKeeping a clear head while all around you are losing theirs…

  28. 5 Topics for the Session

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