IDENTIFYING AND MANAGING STRESS IN YOUR STAFF

A COURSE FOR MANAGERS

OVERVIEW

Increasingly, organisations are becoming aware of the implications of stress in the workplace and the dramatic effect it has on both productivity and morale. Managers need to take responsibility not only for their own stress but also for the stress of their staff and others around them.

On 25th June 2001 the Health and Safety Executive published comprehensive guidance on preventing work related stress in its document “Tackling Work Related Stress: a managers’ guide to improving and maintaining employee health and well being” which provides a step-by-step approach to tackling the causes of stress in the workplace. This training course has been specifically designed to complement its recommendations and provide a forum for developing the skills necessary to create a Wiser Working environment in which stress is managed effectively.

According to the HSE’s stress spokesperson, Elizabeth Gyngell:

“Work related stress is a huge occupational health problem facing Britain today, inflicting a heavy toll both in terms of financial cost and human suffering. Managers have a key role to play in reducing this toll – there is so much they can do which is both simple and effective . . . there is a difference between the buzz people get from doing a busy job and staff simply being unable to cope with the strains placed upon them. A burnt-out workforce is an unproductive workforce and it is in no one’s interest to find themselves in this situation. The spread of good management practice is absolutely vital.”

This is an introductory course which does not aim to explore management responsibility from a statutory perspective (this will be addressed in the HSE documentation) or create further fear and anxiety but to develop those skills which will ensure that stress in the workplace in recognised and addressed in a positive and effective manner.

OBJECTIVES:

On completion of the course participants will:

  • Understand the difference between positive and negative stress
  • Take responsibility for creating a healthy working environment
  • Analyse their own management style and its impact on others
  • Recognise the pressures of the busy working environment
  • Take responsibility for helping staff to manage their workloads
  • Develop positive working relationships with their staff
  • Assess and develop motivation and ownership in their teams
  • Provide support, training and coaching where necessary
  • Handle changes more effectively
  • Ensure that staff have access to “a safety valve” in times of need
  • Ensure staff understand their own responsibilities regarding stress management
  • Recognise high-risk situations and act upon them appropriately
  • Set a plan for personal action and development

CONTENT:

Introductions and Expectations
What is stress?
Identifying stress in others
What is high risk?

Exploring the Seven Risk Factors:

  • Culture
  • Demands
  • Relationships
  • Control
  • Role
  • Support
  • Change

Analysing the culture – A Wiser Working environment
The busy environment – “buzz” or “burnt-out”?
Balancing the load and managing demands – the role of management
Developing effective and sustainable working relationships
Making work positive – motivation and ownership
Handling role conflict and ambiguity
Are you there? Support, training and coaching explored
Providing the safety valve
Managing changes
Stress awareness for staff
Act Now!
Action Planning for Development

Objectives Training and Development was set up by Sylvia Vacher MA BA(Hons) MCIPD FAETC in 1989 to: “Provide training and development services, for both individuals and organisations, enabling them to identify and achieve their objectives in a positive, healthy and fulfilling way” Sylvia believes that the way to achieve this is by identifying and developing Sustainable Behaviours and encouraging Wiser Working at an individual, team and corporate level. Sylvia’s training style is dynamic, participatory and effective.