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By Sheryl Grimme, M.S.,
Co-founder GHR Training Solutions
Are
you or your employees tired before the day begins?
Do you suffer chronic aches and pains (real or imaginary)?
Find you're not giving clients your absolute best?
If so, you may be losing the battle against stress.
According
to Human Resource News (Nov. 1998), "stress has increased
dramatically as a reason why today's employees are
missing work, almost tripling since 1995."
The
1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce states
that 36% of employees often feel drained or "used
up" at the end of a workday. Even more eye opening,
employees report feeling tired before the workday
begins!
What
are the long-term implications of stress? Anyone experiencing
on-going stress provides a fertile breeding ground
for illness. These illnesses range from the common
cold to more severe problems, such as heart attacks
and strokes.
What
Can Individuals Do?
To beat stress, an individual must be able to identify
the symptoms and begin to change the way they think
about themselves and outside factors. For example:
Guidelines
for Positive Thinking:
- RECOGNIZE
when negative thoughts pop into your head.
- STOP!
Imagine a mental stop sign that will put the brakes
on destructive thoughts.
- RESTATE:
Take the negative thought and restate to a positive
(and usually more accurate) word or phrase.
- REWARD:
Say to yourself "good for you!" for a job well done.
Or, forgive yourself for a mistake … and move on!
- REMEMBER:
You can make a mistake, but you are not a mistake!
Six
Steps to Assertive Behavior:
1. Express your honest
feelings in a calm, non-threatening way.
2. When appropriate,
establish a mutually agreeable time and
place
to assert your needs.
3. Describe the other
person's behavior objectively, without
judging
or devaluing.
4. Confine your response
to the specific problem behavior - not
the
whole person.
5. Avoid delivering
put-downs disguised as "honest feelings".
6. Be aware of your
need for approval and/or acceptance.
Stress
attacks on several different levels. To
beat stress, an individual or organization must be
able to identify the symptoms and change destructive
habitual patterns of thought and behavior, before
they cause irreversible damage.
What
Can Management Do?
One way management can prevent the ravages of stress
is to become proactive. Initiating and supporting
stress management programs that emphasize long-range
personal change can increase productivity and cultivate
a healthier, more empowered work force.
In
our On Top of Stress™ workshops and seminars, we teach
our clients specific tools and strategies, such as
positive thinking and assertiveness. Some of the other
stress-busters included are:
- Coping
Effectively with Change
- Time
Management
- Relaxation
Techniques
- Examining
Expectations (of self and others)
The
rewards? Organizations experience higher productivity
and greater profits by nurturing their most precious
asset … their employees.
Learn
to take care of yourself and break free of the stress
cycle. After all, if you and your employees aren't
healthy and fulfilled, there is virtually no way for
you or your business to prosper.
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