Running On Empty

Emotions and Stress at Work

Over-stress and other negative emotions get in the way of workplace performance. Employees that are calm, energized and focused are much better equipped to meet the challenges at work and more able to lead courageously, navigate difficult relationships, manage conflict more successfully and quickly recover from emotional or financial setbacks. Those with lower levels of stress become more engaged and productive employees and are able to do what organizations need them to do.

Drawing on seventeen years of experience in counselling, Wendy Turner-Larsen, Professional Counselor will present breakthrough solutions to many of the negative emotional states that are diminishing the quality of our lives personally and in the workplace.

Learning Outcomes:

  1. 1  recognize one’s negative mood type challenges using the confidential ‘Four Part Mood Type Questionnaire.’

  2. 2  name and strategize how to address one’s:

         stress cues

    •      stress triggers

    •      stress management style – in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

  3. 3 realize how to achieve and maintain emotional balance by implementing effective stress-management and emotional self-management techniques.

  4. 4  identify the concept of personal and workplace boundaries, taking responsibility, addressing poor boundaries and recognizing how taking on too much, perfectionism and people-pleasing add to mounting stress.

 

With depression being the leading cause of disability in the world and that the World Health Organization has predicted that stress will be the leading cause of deaths for men and women in the next ten years, it is no wonder that companies are shelling out millions of dollars, lost employee time, employee replacement costs, re-training, and millions of dollars in prescription drugs,  not to mention the emotional toll on work units. Here's a list of stress symptoms reported by workshop participants:

  •      poor sleep, insomnia, difficulty getting to sleep and/or staying asleep

  •      anxiety, can't stop thoughts, obsessive thinking, worry

  •      low energy

  •      physical symptoms, tightness in shoulders and neck, migraines, grinding or clenching teeth

  •      increased or decreased appetite

  •      cravings for carbohydrates, sweets, wine, tobacco, marijuana, etc.

  •      irritability, easily frustrated, low tolerance level

  •      feeling overwhelmed, burned out, pressured, worn out

  •      body feels stiff, uptight, tense

This is just part of the toll on the individual. What about those left to cover this individual’s work responsibilities? As a therapist and leadership coach, I witness daily the debilitating effects of stress on individual's lives, not to mention the lives of their families, co-workers, work units or the effects on the organization. Since a large part of my counseling and coaching practice focuses on effective stress management, I have first-hand experience in dealing with stress and have developed this and other workshops specifically targeting stress management and emotional wellness.