Why should you attend?
Work-related stress is now one of the biggest causes of absence from the workplace and trends indicate that the figures are getting worse not better. Some degree of stress in our lives is vital. It is what keeps us alert and helps us develop, however, too much stress can lead to both mental and physical illness. This workshop is designed to help us understand what stress is and outline some of the communication and other strategies for managing it. You will experience a range of stress management approaches to find the techniques that work for you. This course will help you contend with the sources of stress that have most impact for you personally.
What will you learn?
- Identify signs and symptoms of stress
- Identify sources of stress
- Measure our level of “day-to-day” stress
- Identify the difference between stress and burnout
- Discuss how we handle stress
- Learn proven communication and other strategies for managing stress both at work and at home
What will you take away?
- Comprehensive workbook
- Exercises and handouts
Professional competencies
- Engagement: Working effectively with people, organizations and partners
- Excellence Through Results: Delivering through own work, relationships and responsibilities
Sample Agenda
Day 1
| Activity |
|---|
| Introductions and Workshop Overview • Review Course Objectives • Stress Buster # 1 |
| Definition and Causes of Stress • Causes of Stress: Write down 10 things that cause you stress (work or personal) • Stress Buster #2 Stress survey |
| BREAK |
| Common Signs and Causes of Stress • Sign of stress • Responses to stress • Causes of stress Plenary and small group discussions |
| Effects of Stress • Positive and Negative Effects of Stress: Mind, Body, Spirit • Definition of Burnout. Working in small groups develop a definition of burnout Survey – Learning about our stressors |
| LUNCH |
| Debriefing of Burnout Inventory • Stress Buster #4 • Individual Exercise: “What makes us Comfortable” • Cures for Burnout Small-group brainstorming and debriefing |
| BREAK |
| Changing the Changeable – Case Study • Small-group discussions and debriefing. • Stress Buster #5 • Stress Buster # 6 Exercise: Stepping out of your comfort zone |
| Review of Day One • What one thing did you learn today to help you deal positively with stress • Qs and As Homework Assignment: Communication Styles Inventory. |
Day 2
| Activity |
|---|
| Recap of Day One Debriefing: Communication Styles Inventory What type of communicator are you? • Visual • Auditory • Kinesthetic |
| Strategies for Communicating under Stress Flexing your communications style. |
| BREAK |
| The Positive Approach to Stress Management • Creating and sustaining life balance. • Individual exercise: • What does “balance” mean to you? • What does it “look like”? What are the four most important things that I would like to spend my time on? |
| Goal-Setting • Identify short, medium and long-term goals for personal, financial, health and work • Goal-setting guidelines Setting SMART goals |
| LUNCH |
| Cognitive Restructuring • Managing self-talk – Group discussion • Exercise: • Reframing from negative thoughts • Writing positive statements to replace negative ones • Managing irrational thoughts • Basic techniques for attacking irrational thoughts Group discussion |
| BREAK |
| Stress Management Techniques • Review of several proven techniques for managing stress • Exercise, Nutrition, Muscular Relaxation, Meditation, Guided Imagery, Visualization. Abdominal Breathing Stress Buster # 7 |
| Personal Action Plan |
| Wrap-up and Workshop Evaluation Participants will complete a short evaluation. |
The tools that were presented will be very helpful in my work and personal environments. Great facility. I will come back for other training.