Stress Prevention Tool

A good working climate is one where stress is largely prevented.  While we cannot, in all likelihood, eliminate all stress, much of it could be prevented.  In this podcast Dot Gourlay introduces a critically important framework called ‘CUSP’^TM that you can use both to prevent stress and reduce the risk when stress has occurred.

A key aim here is to build an atmosphere and team environment which de-stigmatises stress.  Stress is simply a reaction people have to excessive pressures or demands.  We all have excessive pressures or demands sometimes, so such a stigma is pointless and damaging. Unless people feel able to be open about what is causing them stress, you’ll find it difficult to make headway in tackling it in any meaningful way.

The CUSP^TM framework

This is a very simple framework that works equally as well in terms of prevention of stress as it does in helping someone who is not coping.  In other words you can use CUSP^TM proactively and reactively.  

This framework can be applied to any situation where pressure is present.  What it does is get you thinking about your options in a structured way.  There are always options, because the experience of stress is individual and depends largely on perceptions.  If you can change or influence someone’s perceptions, the way they think about a situation, then the stress can be prevented or reduced.

CUSP^TM stands for:

• Control
• Uncertainty
• Suppor
• Pressure

View Dot Gourlay's profile here