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Under Stress: What You and a Minnesota Bridge Have in Common

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Under Stress: What You and a Minnesota Bridge Have in Common

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    1. Under Stress: What You and a Minnesota Bridge Have in Common

    2. What causes stress to a bridge? Pressure Tension Fatigue Overload Lack of maintenance Poor design Short-cuts for convenience Extraordinary circumstances

    3. What causes stress to a person? Pressure Tension Fatigue Overload Lack of maintenance Poor design Short-cuts for convenience Extraordinary circumstances

    4. Question: Is stress a mental or physical condition? Answer: Yes! (It’s both at once) Bridge: no brain, just infrastructure People: brain is part of the infrastructure

    7. Why are we so stressed out? We did not realize it would take all the freight off the rails, and put a car in every garage”,--New Mexico State bridge inspector discussing the unanticipated impact of early highway systems on bridge design. Humans aren’t designed to meet the unanticipated impact of our lifestyles: -We now live long enough for stress to hurt us. -Extraordinarily complicated social systems. -diet, exercise, toxins -Culture of acquisition (stuff, activities)

    8. Signs that an employee is under stress High absenteeism and/or tardiness negativity, pessimism forgetfulness, absent-mindedness suicidal or homicidal statements frequent illnesses, “malaise” Self-isolates Loss of investment in job Over-reaction to suggestions/supervision

    9. Short temper or crying fits Always tired Taking on too much Uncharacteristically messy workspace Defensiveness, anxiety, depression frequent accidents Self-criticism and criticism of others Paranoia Boredom Signs that an employee is under stress

    10. Performance worsens Uncharacteristic gossiping or badmouthing Is contentious or passive-aggressive Frequent highly emotional phone calls S/he says so Signs that an employee is under stress

    13. CONTROL & CHOICE Virtually all negative stress comes from a sense of not having control over the situation. Hint: When dealing with a difficult personality, find ways to give him/her some options from which to choose.

    14. ATTITUDE 75% of conversation is negative! We create a lot of our own stress by: Negative self-talk (“My idea sounded really stupid at the managers’ meeting.”) Projecting negativity on others (“He didn’t call back—he probably thinks I’m a jerk.”) Habitual pessimism (“Why bother? They’d never hire me anyway.”) Need for acceptance (“If I tell her that I’m angry she won’t like me.”)

    15. How strong is your infrastructure?

    16. Fatigue Could Loom Large in Bridge Collapses “Fatigue could be a cause in structural failures like the one in Minnesota. The challenge lies in recognizing it” Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Design News, Nov. 19, 2007 “Like most other bridges it gradually gained weight…” (as concrete lane dividers were added). NY Times, Jan. 15, 2008 “The bridge was built with a single 458-ft. arch to avoid…interfering with river navigation.”USA Today, Aug, 2007

    17. Compromise for Convenience: Who’s responsible for maintaining your bridge? Short-changing sleep affects all systems Weak musculoskeletal structure from little exercise or unprepared exercise Fast food, fat food, little fresh stuff. Poor maintenance (no physical exams) Elevators, golf carts, mopeds and the culture of driving everywhere

    18. Sometimes our stress isn’t obvious, even to people we see everyday

    19. “The I-35 bridge was of a type called ‘fracture critical’, meaning that the failure of any major member would cause a collapse, because it had no redundancy.” NY Times, Jan.08 support = strength Identify your supports: family, friends, faith, healthcare, EAP Reinforcement: accepting and asking for help

    20. What can we do to manage stress? “There are two ways of meeting difficulties. Alter the difficulty, or alter yourself to meet them.” Phyllis Bottome Figure out what is ours to control: Physical infrastructure Attitude and assertiveness (Some) Conditions Help self to deal with the rest: Relaxation techniques Spirituality --Health Humor --therapy Supports --EAP

    21. “Your challenge is to bridge the gap which exists between where you are now and the goal you intend to reach.” Earl Nightingale, US author Are you on a “bridge to nowhere”? Bridges are inert, people aren’t. Reinforcement: What do you want your life to look like two years* from now? Name the first steps to getting there. *(or two weeks, months, decades)

    22. Which bridge do you want to be?

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