1. Stress Management Competencies
Alan Bradshaw
Partner, Work-Life Solutions
Director, QoWL

2. This presentation A short history lesson plus context
Stress management competencies???
An interactive bit. HOORAY!
What research showed – the ‘Framework’
An application – Management Devt.
Results
Wild, uninhibited applause

3. A Very Brief History of Stress Management
War: Shell Shock – later called Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Prolonged exposure to battlefield conditions - everybody has a breaking point (also true at work!)
Hans Selye: Stress research; general adaptation syndrome; eustress/distress; stress if it keeps increasing will lead to illness, exhaustion and ultimately, death (also true at work!)
Holmes and Rahe: Importance of Life Events; link made between accumulated stress from events and risk of serious illness (also true at work!)

4. Work-related Stress Management
70s & 80s: Stress Management Training
80s & 90s: Growth of EAPs
00s: Stress Training for Managers, Stress as a Health & Safety issue; Policies
04: Launch of Management Standards; Risk Assessment / Risk Management Approaches
2010s: Stress Management Competencies

5. Stress Management Competencies
Skills and behaviours that lead to improved job performance
Management Competencies?
….management performance
Stress Management Competencies?
Stress management…prevention and reduction of stress at work

6. Does your manager ever make you feel sick?
a) Never! If it wasn’t for the support of my manager, work would be far more stressful
b) Sometimes. My manager is ok but sometimes totally loses the plot
c) Get me the bucket. NOW!!

7. Brief Exercise: “Best Manager, Worst Manager”
Reflect on best and worst (stress) managers you ever had
In pairs, toss a coin to decide whether to discuss best or worst
Write a list of the key characteristics of the best/worst managers
What was it that made them so good/bad?
Will the research findings agree with you? Let’s see…

8. Management Competencies Research
Four Stress Management Competencies emerged:
Managing with respect - Managing emotions, having integrity and taking responsibility.
Managing workload - Managing existing and future work.
Managing individuals - Managing individuals within the team.
Managing relationships - Managing difficult situations.

9. Applications: Management Development
Best approach (evidence-based):
360 assessment (not self assess – why?)
One-to-one feedback using report
Workshop for participating managers

10. Results: What to Expect
Fewer stress problems
Improved…
Management skills and behaviours
Relationships at work
Communication
Engagement, wellbeing and performance
But most of all…

11. Managers that won’t make people sick!

12. Partner, Work-Life Solutions
Thanks for listening!
Please hand in slips if you want further information (Competencies, 360, slides)
Look out for Roadshows in the Autumn
Any questions?
Alan Bradshaw
Partner, Work-Life Solutions