In Equilibrium 26
Dear subscribername, here is your latest copy of our newsletter
In Equilibrium 26
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- In House Training details
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- New Managers Managing Stress Open Course - 2005 Dates
- I-Stram - Stress Risk Management System
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THIS MONTH
1. In Equilibrium News: Managers Managing Stress - Available as an Open Course for the first time!
The 'Managers Managing Stress' course has been the most popular in-house course we have run for several years now. Now, public course dates have been set for venues throughout the UK.
Clients have a number of reasons for commisioning this type of training. Some clients want their managers to work proactively with their teams to prevent stress. Some want their managers to be able to identify stress-related problems before they become disasters. Some want their managers to support people better when they are 'stressed out', and others are worried about the legal risks and would like to prevent claims. The course has been successful because it meets all these needs. More recently, something that has stimulated a lot of enquiries and bookings has been HSE's Management Standards. We've adapted the Managers Managing Stress course to make sure that managers are more aware of these standards and know what to do to comply.
As you might imagine, training like this evolves over time and often has to be tailored to meet the requirements of clients. For example, many clients use the management training as part of their implementation strategy once they have developed a stress policy. We always make sure any training helps in this respect. Good policy on stress is about action, particularly management actions, and we have always taken the view that the training should support the objectives of the organisation's policy if it is to be successful.
If you are considering what to do to prevent and reduce stress at work, my advice would be to think about management training first, before more general stress awareness training.
You won't regret putting your managers through this course.
Alan Bradshaw
2. Stress Tip: Does Music Pass You By?
When Einstein was struggling to solve a problem it is well known that he used to take time out with his violin. This musical diversion would give his brain a break and he would often come back to his work with a new idea or answer.
The "music appreciation area" of the brain is located in the right hemisphere. Did you know that tests have shown that if you damage this area of the brain in an injury or as a result of a stroke you can still listen to music but it no longer affects your emotions.
Music can be enjoyed at many different conscious levels - why not take some time today to listen to music - give it your complete attention - let it massage your brain.
If you play a musical instrument you will know that it is practically impossible to think of anything else at the same time as you are playing. So for those of us who find it difficult to switch off, playing a musical instrument is the ideal remedy (unless it annoys the neighbours!!)
"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
Dale Carnegie 1888-1955 (American Trainer, author "How to Win Friends and Influence People")
4. Book Review: 500 of the Most Important Stress-Busting Tips You’ll Ever Need
By Suzannah Olivier
This book is designed as a ready reference for any area of your life which is producing stress. Each chapter deals with a different area in your life including situations in the home, work and money, health, emotions, and relationships.
The chapter on Home covers various situations and circumstances that we all find ourselves in as well as excellent suggestions on how to deal with them. Arguing and Bickering are covered, winding down with 5-Minute Tips, Using Diaries, Lists and Filing, having a Home Gym, Housework, Kids-Zone, Multitasking and Creating Order out of chaos. All the advice is practical and effective.
The Chapter on Work and Money covers areas from Ambition to Working from Home. There are areas on Sitting Exams and Job Interviews, Office Politics, Problem Solving, Unemployment, etc. Each section gives insights that individuals and couples can work with and should help to improve one’s quality of life.
The Appendices at the end of the book cover areas such as Cognitive Thinking, Visualisation, Mind Mapping, Nutrition, etc. as well as a list of useful resources. Finally there is an Alphabetical List of Entries covering Addiction to Work/Home Balance and Working from Home. Literally, you name it and it is there.
Unlike many books that one reads or glances at and then forgets, this book is there as a provider of quick and often effective answers to help many of the problems of modern life. I recommend it.
Dr David Mason Brown
Do you have any thoughts/opinions on this or any other book review you have read in In Equilibrium?
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5. Al's Column: The Curse of Travel Sickness
Do you suffer from travel sickness? I do. Or to be more precise I sometimes get sick of travel. Actually there are times when travel is OK, not that bad, tolerable even, but travel is bearable only in certain circumstances. These are in no particular order: (a) when everything goes according to plan and on time (b) when the weather is good everywhere (this often influences (a)); (c) when you're not absolutely exhausted; (d) when you have good company, or when travelling alone, an absence of bad company (especially when you find a seat that does not dramatically increase the risk of dvt (important when you are 6 feet 4).
But how often do these benign conditions apply in the UK? Take travel by air (actually don't, it'll make you depressed), all that's required is for the weather to have been bad somewhere at some point, for your plane to be hours late. Last week I was travelling home, after 2 days on the road, from Bristol to Edinburgh. It was Friday, I was tired, it had been a long day, but it was a fine evening and had been a beautiful day in the West Country. I had every expecation that before too long I would be home in my warm house with a warm glow after a cuddle, a small(ish) medicinal glass, and a nice meal. Hope and expectation makes travel stress worse. I should not have allowed my optimism and desire to be home on a Friday night get the better of me.
Instead I should have steeled myself for disappointment. Once I could find a screen that worked, it was clear that there was a problem. The time of departure showed 9.10 not 7.10 as promised. My heart sank. No warm house, no large glass (I felt my medicinal needs had increased), no cuddle, for some time yet. Thankfully a more realistic resigned pessimism took over. I know from previous experience that long delays really meant much longer delays. I assured my lovely wife (how I missed her, how I longed for a cuddle) I would be lucky to be home by midnight.
A while later, there was an announcement. Flight .... would now be departing at 9.30 and the reason for the delay was...."the late incoming flight". Amazing I thought, fancy that, (cynicism and sarcasm, had now joined pessimism in its rightful place at the travellers top table). Remaining announcements were in line with expectations "9.30" became "9.55", which became eventually "the plane has now taken off from Edinburgh" When the plane arrived there was an ironic cheer from 150 weary travellers. Our flight took off at 11pm. I had been waiting for the "excuse" and when it came I almost laughed. There had, apparently been bad weather "somewhere" (that's all it takes you know) and later this was extended to "the East". My stress management training has taught me to 'accept' rather than question explanations like this. You may ask, 'but isn't Bristol in the West and Edinburgh North (weather had been good there all day I checked). But I assure you, questioning and looking for explanations only results in more stress. Previously I had been delayed for several hours on a flight from Stanstead to Edinburgh due to fog and ice in Amsterdam. Believe me, its best not to question these things, just accept them.
When I eventually staggered in it was Saturday. There was no cuddle, food left in the fridge was no longer so appetising, and my glass though welcome had lost some of its reviving qualities as I was just too exhausted. I watched some telly, awful telly for a while, then went to bed.
So as you see, it's easy to develop travel sickness.
Alan Bradshaw (aka Victor Meldrew)
6. Web Resources: ACAS website
The ACAS website is full of excellent resources, and it now has an article specifically relating to Stress At Work, if you havent seen it already, it's worth a look. It contains a foreward by the HSE, relates specifically to the Management Standards issued in November 04, and contains some statistics to help you to make the case for tackling stress at work.
If you know of any resources on the internet that you think may be of interest to our readers, please click here to email us. We can accept no responsibility for the content of sites referred to in this section.
7. Stress Technique: Forgive to help yourself
One of the great mistakes in life is that we harbour resentments about others who have, in our eyes, wronged us in some way. Such resentment often lasts for years if not a lifetime. What does this achieve? The reality is that it only actually affects one person, the one who is holding onto the resentment. And it only affects them in a negative way, nothing positive ever comes from resentment.
Are you holding onto resentment in this way? If you are, decide to let it go by forgiving the person involved for whatever it is they did that you didn’t like. This doesn’t mean that you now suddenly like that person; you are not in any way condoning what they did. The fact is that this is the best way of letting your resentment go, along with all the negativity it brings. So, by inwardly forgiving someone else, the person you are really helping is yourself.
Alastair Taylor
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