1. Stress Management and Resiliency

2. Overview Definition/Effects of Stress Elements of Stress
Reactions to Stress
Defense Mechanisms
Coping Strategies
Time Management
Domains of Resiliency 5

3. Defining Stress
Mental, emotional, or physical tension, strain, or distress. An environment filled with reinforcing or opposing forces that either stimulate or inhibit performance.
How does the clip you just saw fit this definition?

4. Elements of Stress A balance or imbalance of:
Driving Forces (stressors)
Restraining Forces (resiliency)

5. Current Level of Functioning
Elements of Stress
Current Level of Functioning
Driving Force A
Restraining Force A
Driving Force B
Restraining Force B
Driving Force C
Restraining Force C
Driving Force D
Restraining Force D
Modified from Lewin’s Force Field

6. Elements of Stress Driving Forces (Stressors)
Time: too much in too little time
Encounters: interpersonal issues
Situation: long hours/changes
Anticipatory: expected tense climate
Tie to OTS and get examples from students.

7. Elements of Stress Restraining Forces (Resiliency)
Physiological: cardiovascular conditioning & dietary control
Psychological: control, commitment, challenge develops “hardiness”
Social: friendships, mentor relationships, task teams
Physiological: patterns and a higher level of positive energy to address stressful jobs and
workloads.
Psychological: This type, research has proven, is more prone
to stress, impatience, anger, and competitiveness
Social: Supportive social relationships are important as well. Mentors play
that role, providing encouragement, opportunity and they have good listening
skills. A cohesive work team also helps resiliency.

8. Reactions to Stress
General Reactions
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion

9. Reactions to Stress Managerial Reactions Narrow View (tunnel vision)
Intolerant & Demanding
Fixate on Single Approach
Adopt a Crisis Mentality
Oversimplify Issues
Consult Others Less Often
Rely on Old Habits
Less Creative Problem Solving
Employee surveys over a 25-year period revealed overwhelmingly that
the greatest workplace unhappiness was caused by poor relationships with
immediate supervisors.
Bottom line: Stress not only affects employees and followers, but gets in the way
of effective management and leadership.
Take a look at this clip and look for some of these reactions to stress from a managerial point of view.

10. Defense Mechanisms Aggression - attack the stressor
Regression - childish
Repression - denial
Withdrawal - attention gap/escape
Fixation - pointless persistence

11. Develop resiliency strategies Learn temporary coping mechanisms
Coping Strategies
Enactive – creating non-stress environment
Proactive – increasing resiliency
Reactive – short-term
Managing Stress
Develop resiliency strategies
Eliminate stressors
Permanent
Enactive
Long Time
Long Term
Proactive
Moderate Time
Learn temporary coping mechanisms
Short Term
Reactive
Immediate
Purpose
Effects
Approach
Time
Required
Enactive Strategies
Proactive Strategies
Reactive Strategies

12. Time Management Long-term – Effective Short-term – Efficient
Focus on effectiveness before efficiency
Long-Term “effective” time management
(1) Allows you to distinguish between important matters vs. urgent ones,
and to be able to work on both
(2) You can focus on results, not just methods.
Short-term “efficient” time management
(1) You can employ efficiency methods, like calendars, to-do lists,
planning tools, and the like, but without effective long-term strategies,
these have limited value.
(2) Eliminating habitual, but time-wasting, actions can be done through a
bit of self examination and saying “no,” sometimes when you’d be in
the habit of saying, “yes.”
The key is to focus first, on effectiveness, eliminating the major time stressors,
then on efficiency, how you use the critical time on the clock you have chosen
for doing those most important and urgent things.

13. Developmental Opportunities Unscheduled Interruptions
Time Management
Crisis
Customer Complaints
Developmental Opportunities
Innovating
Planning
Escapes
Routines
Arguments
Mail
Ringing Phone
Unscheduled Interruptions 1 3
High
Importance 2 4
Low
High
Low
Urgency

14. Time Management Efficient Techniques Hold routine day-end meetings
Hold short stand-up meetings
Set meeting time deadlines
Cancel light-agenda meetings
Set agenda
Stick to it
Keep track of time
Start meetings on time
Here are some rules when considering “efficient” time management.

15. Time Management Efficient Techniques
Prepare minutes, follow up on decisions
Insist followers suggest solutions
Meet visitors in office doorway
Visit subordinates’ office for brief meetings
Don’t over-schedule your day
Have someone else take calls, scan
Have place to work uninterrupted
Do something definitive w/every piece of paper

16. Time Management Efficient Techniques Keep work area clean
Delegate work
Identify amount of effort
Give others credit for success

17. Resiliency
The ability to withstand, recover and/or grow in the face of stressors and changing demands.
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health

18. Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF)
Resiliency
Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF)
Domains of Resilience
Physical Fitness
Mental Fitness
Social Fitness
Spiritual Fitness

19. Resiliency Performance Health Teamwork & Leadership
Better able to generate ideas in response to problem
Better decision-making
Health
Lower blood pressure
Better sleep
Better immune functioning
Teamwork & Leadership
More valued by team members
Better able to achieve consensus during negotiations

20. Resiliency
Physical Fitness
Endurance
Strength
Nutrition
Recovery

21. Resiliency Mental Fitness Awareness Adaptability Positive Thinking
Decision Making

22. Resiliency Social Fitness Connectedness Teamwork Social Support
Communication
In other words - Be a Wingman!

23. Resiliency Spiritual Fitness Purpose Core Values Perseverance
perspective

24. Effective Problem Solving
Resiliency
Effective Problem Solving
Accurately assess situations
Generate a list of viable options
Use this information to determine a best course of action

25. Resiliency Reenergizing Regulate nutritional balance
Take part in periodic recreation
Enjoy downtime
Get adequate rest

26. Resiliency
Positive Orientation Why might a positive orientation (outlook) be difficult for some?

27. Resiliency
Positive Orientation What type things can you do to maintain a positive outlook on life?

28. Consider these actions:
Resiliency
Positive Orientation
Consider these actions:
Focus upon positives such as gratitude, blessings, delights, interest, and love
Cope with hard times through laughter, humor, and fun
Make time to play and have fun
Increase contacts and support from others
Practice letting go and coping with surprises

29. Summary Definition/Effects of Stress Elements of Stress
Reactions to Stress
Defense Mechanisms
Coping Strategies
Time Management
Domains of Resiliency
Definition: An environment filled with reinforcing or opposing forces that either stimulate or inhibit performance
Elements: Driving force – Time, encounters, situation, anticipation
Restraining force –physiological, psychological, social
Reactions: General – alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Managerial – intolerant, oversimplify, old habits, less creative problem solving, etc.
Defense mechanisms – Aggression, Regression, Repression, Withdrawal, Fixation
Coping Strategies – Enactive, Proactive, Reactive
Time Management – Effective vs efficient, important vs urgent, and the balance along with many techniques
Exercise 45