STRESS and  PRESSURE

Stress is THE 21st century DIS - EASE which has become a silent epidemic - and it KILLS. More people are now compelled to do something about it. Organisations are slowly awakening to the fact that millions of pounds are lost every year in absenteeism, inefficiency, relationship conflict, and poor quality of work due to stress. However, a number of dangerous myths have developed which are distracting attention away from the real cause and cures of stress.

One of the symptoms is Chronic Fatigue, and it is believed that with the right circumstances it can lead to something called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) that affects around 1 in 200 peole in the UK and the US.  In the UK this week there was a conference in Cambridge where new hope was given for sufferers. Jonathan Kerr of St Georges University of London told the conference that, with his colleagues, they have identified 88 genes which were expressed differently  in the blood of patients with ME. This says Dr Kerr, points to a biological basis for the illness and holds out hope for a blood test to identify its differnt forms.

It can also lead to backaches, tension headaches, stomach and digestive problems, skin problems, asthma and high blood pressure. If we ignore the syptoms it can lead to “malfunction junction” - accident proneness, clumsiness, spilling things and bumping into things. Judgement errors and bad decisions, repeated errors in spelling, typing, computing, significant memory problems, slips of the tongue and using wrong words, flashes of impatience and irritation. Eventually if we miss the cues we can end up with Sleep problems, Gastrointestinal disorders, Heart problems, Shortnend life span…

THE 8 MYTHS about STRESS

1. MYTH: You have to be a doctor to diagnose stress - You don’t. Most doctors only treat the physical synptoms - not the root cause. Only YOU know the root causes of your stress and only YOU can manage it and prevent it. With a little guidance you can become your own doctor.
2. MYTH: Stress is natural and an inevitable part of modern living - Not so. There is no such thing as positive stress. By definition stress is unnatural. Stress is a form of pain and pain is simply a messenger there is something YOU need to change. And that means ther is something YOU neeed to learn.
3. MYTH: Stress is necessary to reach peak performance -  Definitely NOT. It is a false belief that stress, or puttting excessive pressure on people is necessary to get things done. Stress leads to illness, absenteeism, poor work performance and eventually dimishing effectiveness. There is NO such thing as positive stress (an oxymoron)
4. MYTH: Stress is simlpy a physical phenomena and a little rest will make it go away - Nonsense!! The root casue of all stress is the non-physical realms of thoughts and feelings.
5. MYTH: A change of diet, a little jogging and a good holiday will take your stress away - Sorry. For the same reason as above, these things may relieve the symptoms temporarily, but will not provide a cure. That’s not to say a healthy diet, nutrition and exercise are not important - they are. However, they will not free you from stress.
6. MYTH: You have to be working 14 hours a day and constantly meeting deadlines to experinece stress - Not al all. Some people only work a few hours a day, hardly even confront a deadline and are more stressed than those working long hours to tight deadlines.
7. MYTH: Other people, situations and events are responsible for your experience of stress - They are not. This is the most common myth, otherwise know as ‘victimitis’. Stress is not the result of what other people say or do. It is the result of how WE respond to them or the circumstances. Whic is why stress management is also an oxymoron. What it really measn is SELF - MANAGEMENT.
8. MYTH: You never experience stress - Unlikely. Everyone experiences some kind of stress every day. However, many are not aware what they are experiencing is stress, or they are in denial and will not admit to the stress they experience for the fear of loss of of face or position. This only leads to greater stress.

Do an inventory of yourself today - do you find yourself saying any of the above? The first stage of controlling stress is being the external observer, the watcher. Then use the power of choice to do something about it NOW. Recognising it and “going with the flow” is an important signpost towards “what’s out of balance in your life at this moment.”

HAve FUN exploring all the possibilites of living a powerfull life NOW.

Jim. 

SAFETY: SLIPS, TRIPS and FALLS

Be it at home, the workplace or your local high street - slips, trips and falls are having a devastating consequences.

In my home town, Glasgow, statistics show that over 600 people a year are being injured - one died last year and it’s costing the city almost £10.5 million.

In the UK we have a campaign called “Shattterd Lives” (click here)

It recommends that we use a simple mapping tool (Click here) to determine where the HOT SPOTS are then initiate remedial action.

This is a reactive means of risk assessment plotting the previous danger areas.

The challenge is to move from reactive safety management to PROACTIVE management. It’s about proactive SAFETY BEHAVIOURS -doing the right thing.

When you see a slip, trip or fall hazard at work - do you say “It’s not my job!, I am not paid to DO THAT - that’s management’s reponsibility.”

Yes, “management” have a responsibility to have and maintain a safe workplace. YOU also have a duty of care to yourself and everyone in the workplace “to do the right thing.”

If there is a safety hazard in your work, in your  home or in your community “Don’t chance it - CHANGE IT” - do someting about it, make it safe as you can without puting yourself in danger, report it.

It’s about dynamic risk assessment - our environment is constantly changing, we need to be aware of the hazards, their consequences and how often they could happen (hazard effect x probability = RISK) then put controls in place to reduce the risks to a safe level.

What are the energy sources that could cause harm?

Is it any of the following:Motion from mechanical equipment, chemicals, radiation, electrical, gravity (falling objects), Heat/Cold, Biological, Pressure???

What can I/WE do to make it safe/safer?

A LEARNING SOCIETY (click here) is PROACTIVE - we all look after each other. The systems are dynamic to allow for change, and above all the ability to LEARN and GROW.

It starts with each and everyone of us - if we pause for a second, THINK SAFETY, and try for just one day to look through the eyes of a CARING PARENT as we go about our daily business - what are the potential hazards IAM SEEING, what can I DO about it?

WE see the hot cup of tea/coffee on a table that could scald a a “toddler” - we move it, we take the hazard away (REMOVAL) , if it’s a fire they could crawl into - we place a barrier in place in the form of a “fire guard”.(GUARDING)

If it was an electrical appliance we would switch it off (ISOLATION) or remove it. When toddler gets stronger and ventures to riding a bicycle we reduce the risk of serious injury by getting them to wear safety helmet (Personal Protective Equipment - PPE)

We already KNOW what to do - we let our attention slip due to the “hustle and bustle” of life.

So, just for a day let’s “LETS THINK SAFETY” - you never know, it may lead to another, then another…..

A learning society perhaps?? (grin)

Jim

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE at work

IQ and technical skills are important, but Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the hallmark of HOT Leadership

Effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: they all have a high degree of Emotional Intelligence. Be it a grandchild or Grand Mother.. (smile) they have in “business speak” a working knowledge of Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation (I want that chocolate chip ice-cream)  Empathy and Social Skill (if I don’t get the ice-cream now it means you don’t love me any more…)

Let’s summarise them now:

Definition = D     Hallmark = H

• Self-Awareness D - the ability to recognise and understand your moods, emotions, and drives, as well as their efect on others. H - self confidence, realistic self-assessment, self-deprecating sense of humour
• Self-Regulation D - the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods. The ability/inclination to suspend judgement - to think before acting. H - trustworthiness and integrity, comfort with ambiguity, openness to change.
• Motivation D - A passion to work for reasons that go beyond money or status. The ability to pursue goals with energy and persitence. H - strong drive to achieve, optimism, even in the face of failure.
• Empathy D - The ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people. The skill intreating people according to their emotional reactions. H - Expertise at building and retaining talent. Cross cultural sensitivity. Service to clientsand customers.
• Social Skill D - proficiency in managing relationships and building networks. An ability to find common ground and build rapport. H - Effetiveness at leading change. Persuasiveness with an expertise in building and leading teams

It has been said that Emotional Intelligence can be “summed-up” as Doing the right thing.

No matter what your station in life do you take the informed choice to the right thing?

What small STEP can you do TODAY to practice your Emotional Intelligence skills?

Above all HAVE FUN and do it with PASSION..

Jim

HUMANITARIANISM - doing the right thing

HOT Leadership is about “doing the right thing”.

It’s about core values and beliefs, the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and communities.