MANAGING STRESS
SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
STRESS BUSTER - a squeezy-ball that looks like a traditional smiley rolls on to the screen from left. There is a huge screen on one wall, a big leather Lazy Boy chair on the right.
As Stress Buster rolls in… he checks a mike attached on his lapel… and speaks…
STRESS BUSTER
Hello… ummm… errr… Is this working… I don't think its working.
Looking at some one off the screen fiddles with the lapel mike…
Off Screen Voice
It is fine. Just leave it alone… You are on air…
STRESS BUSTER (big TV smile - teeth dazzling briefly)
Oh.. okai… Umm…
STRESS BUSTER (big TV smile - teeth dazzling briefly)
Hello, out there! I am STRESS BUSTER your host for this session…
Walks slowly to the Lazy Boy chair as he speaks. Picks up a remote control kept on a short table next to the chair and starts fidgeting with it.
STRESS BUSTER
As we are all aware, this is a session on Managing Stress… Naturally, it is my chief concern that at least during this session, you are not stressed…
He hops on to the chair… and seats himself comfortably.
STRESS BUSTER
So, please, make yourself comfortable.
takes out a wedgy from his pants
STRESS BUSTER
Aah! Sorry about that. It happens all the time. So, I hope you have had coffee and snacks in the break…
opens a soda can
STRESS BUSTER
Now, relax. We are just going to have a small chat. No stress. I promise. Just sink back in your chairs, stretch your feet…
Small feet emerge out of the ball which Stress Buster stretches onto a small leg-stool in front of the chair…
STRESS BUSTER
You can even kick those shoes off…
Takes off his small shoes… and stink vapors come out of the socks…
OFF SCREEN VOICE
Arrrrrrrrrgh! Put those back on dude… you are killing us!!!!
Stressbuster sheepishly puts the shoes back on…
STRESS BUSTER
Of course. Povided, your socks are not over stressed… (smile)…
Which brings us to the topic again… stress… Experts call it a lifestyle disease… They say it kills. You know what whatever experts say, I think stress is a very funny thing… Here, I will show you what I mean…Check this first scenario…
Flicks the remote. The TV on the wall comes alive and we see a office setting…
We zoom in on the TV…
ABLE DOGOOD is working sincerely at his desk… CRIBBY JOE, his colleague is busy chatting up a female colleague by the coffee dispenser. A peon approaches him…
PEON
Sir, MD Sir is calling you…
CRIBBY JOE
(rolls his eyes at the girl)
Now what does he want…
(to the peon)
Ok… ok… I am coming.
We are in the MD's office…
MD
I want this presentation made by tomorrow… ok?
CRIBBY JOE
But sir, tomorrow?
MD
It's not much. Have it on my desk first thing tomorrow morning…
CRIBBY JOE
Yes sir!
Outside back at his desk
CRIBBY JOE groaning
ABLE DOGOOD
What happened?!
CRIBBY JOE
Man… I am stressed. So much work. So little time… The stress is killing me…
We zoom out of the TV as the CRIBBY JOE bangs his head on the desk.
STRESS BUSTER pauses the TV.
STRESS BUSTER
See… what he said… stress is killing me. Right? Now, watch this second scenario…
Stress Buster pushes the forward button and the actions in the TV as sped up to another day at work..
Zoom into the TV again.
Same office, another day. The CRIBBY JOE is at the female CRIBBY JOE's table now… A peon comes again…
PEON
Sir, MD Sir is asking for you…
CRIBBY JOE
rolling his eyes again
Now, what does he want.
to the peon
Ok…ok… I will be there in a moment.
In the MD's cabin.
MD
Here is the data. Make sure that the project report is ready by next Monday. You have four days…
CRIBBY JOE
But Sir…
MD
It is not much. Keep it ready on Monday morning…
Back at the CRIBBY JOE's desk
CRIBBY JOE is playing solitaire on his computer.
ABLE DOGOOD
Hey, you have a deadline to meet and you are playing solitaire…?
CRIBBY JOE
So what… it's just Wednesday… And you know what… I work better when I am stressed…
TV is paused again… We pull out to see Stress Buster smiling at the camera…
STRESS BUSTER
See what I mean… on one hand he says 'stress is killing me' on the other hand he says 'I work when I am under stress…'
Lifts his hands in exasperation!
STRESS BUSTER
So, is stress a performance enhancer or a mass murderer?
In the background we see CRIBBY JOE receiving a medal when Stress Buster says Performance Enhancer…
And when he says Mass Murderer… we see a office full of cubicle… and people dropping dead in each cubicle….
STRESS BUSTER
Well, neither. The solution is - optimum management of stress… You have to manage your stress levels… And to manage your stress levels you need to… Understand Stress Levels…
So, how does one do that…
Stress Buster flicks the TV remote again… And we see a huge stadium… and we zoom in on the green… we see a grid as shown in the slide…
A line runs vertical and another runs horizontal… dividing the green ground into 4 parts… we see a football player standing at the intersection of the two lines… He has a football at his feet and he is wearing a t-shirt that says… RE-PELE..
Low Challenge
High Challenge
Is written at the two ends of the horizontal line…
High Energy
Low Energy
Is written at the ends of the vertical line.
The field is divided into 4 quarters - as shown in the slide…
Peak Performance
Burn Out / Exhaustion
Distress / Boredom
Recharge Time
There are Goal Posts at the Low Challenge and High Challenge ends of the line…
RE-PELE
Stress Buster appears in a small window at the top… and looks like a commentator in a commentary box…
STRESS BUSTER
Professionally, we are continuously bombarded with work. And we have to deliver the goods in a particular period of time. Our performance depends entirely on our energy levels and the nature of the job given.
STRESS-BUSTER
If the job is what is called ‘Low Challenge’… something that is easy or does not interest you at all… and your Energy Levels are high… It implies, you will be in the 4th quadrant.
RE-PELE dribbles the ball in to the Distress/ Boredom quarter… He kicks the ball into the goal post. A goal keeper appears out of nowhere… but he does not move… he keeps listening to his iPod. The ball goes into the net… comes back… RE-PELE hits it in again.. and again and again… the goal keeper is not bothered… finally RE-PELE gets bored… and starts playing with the ball…and finally kicks it into space.
STRESS BUSTER
High Energy – Low Challenge… naturally, you will be absolutely bored and distressed! You will be seeking challenges but you will be delegated dull assignments… creating a stressful situation for you. Saw where that ball went… it hit the ceiling!
STRESS BUSTER
Now, if the job given to you is highly challenging. And if you are also high on energy levels…
RE-PELE is sipping on fluid at the center of the field… Jogging and warming up…
STRESS-BUSTER
You are in an energetic frame of mind… ready to tackle the task…
RE-PELE enters the field… into the first quadrant… PEAK PERFORMANCE…ball at his command… he dodges through the field… and scores a spectacular goal…
STRESS BUSTER
You saw that… High Challenge – High Energy gives you Peak Performance.
RE-PELE taking off his shirt and running through the field…
STRESS BUSTER
But if the task given to you is highly challenging. But you are not at your best energy levels…
RE-PELE is in the second quadrant… moving sluggishly… slowly… kicks the ball without any will to score a goal…
STRESS BUSTER
You are in quadrant 2 – High Challenge – Low Energy… And as you can imagine, this is a perfect recipe for what is called Burn Out or Exhaustion.
RE-PELE collapses mid-field and is carried out on a stretcher…
STRESS BUSTER
However, if the work you are doing is ‘Low Challenge’ and you are also experiencing Low Energy
RE-PELE is in the third quarter - he is sharing a cold drink with the goal-keeper of the opposite team…
STRESS BUSTER
You are in Low Energy – Low Challenge state. You have the best opportunity to go in the Recharge Mode…
RE-PELE throws the cold drink bottle onto the side…is refreshed and runs energetically to the intersection of the lines…
We zoom in on Stress Buster… who is transported back into his room and is sipping on a cold drink now…
STRESS BUSTER
The secret lies in balancing your energy levels with the challenges you are facing…
Stress Buster presses the replay button on his remote… and we see RE-PELE scoring the high-energy, high-challenge goal again and again..
STRESS BUSTER
Peak performance results when your energy levels match the challenge at hands. But a note of caution here…
Stress Buster pushes the slow-motion button… and we see that for the 10th or 11th time when RE-PELE is kicking the ball in the same goal… it misses the goal…
STRESS BUSTER
Peak Performance is not sustainable over long periods of time. Also.. check this…
We see replay of the burn-out area…
STRESS BUSTER
When the challenge is high and energy levels dip, your do not match up to the challenge at hand… In such a situation, if you keep pushing yourself, you are exhausted. You experience Burn Out.
Replay of RE-PELE hitting the goals several times and finally hitting the ball into space…
STRESS BUSTER
When your energy levels are high and the challenges are not high enough, it leads to Distress. Which, for the records, is not opposite of stress… but a form of stress itself.
RE-PELE standing with the opposition goal keeper.. sharing a drink and listening to his iPod…
STRESS BUSTER
And this is most important. If there is one thing you take home from this session, let it be the importance of ‘Recharge time’. You cannot survive without Recharge Time. At the end of each day, take time out – Play tennis, listen to music, watch a movie … ensure that your body and mind relaxes after a prolonged period of fatigue. It recharges your spirit and gears you up for the next challenge.
We see Stress Buster standing in the field with a microphone… talking to RE-PELE…
STRESS BUSTER
Well played, RE-PELE… You playing at your peak today…?
RE-PELE
I think… it is very important to understand stress levels,man! That way, you can plan your life… Have a good balance between energy and challenge… you know what I mean, man… You can make sure that you have adequate recharge time… That’s the great strategy to play the game… man
STRESS BUSTER
Well said… and I hope you were listening to what RE-PELE said about Recharge Time… Over to the studios now…
Stress Buster is back in his room…
STRESS BUSTER
So much for understanding stress levels.. But what exactly causes stress?
Well... here are few things I dug out for you…
Stress Buster flicks the remote and we are in the office scenario again…
We see that the PEON has just finished sealing a stack of envelopes. He looks satisfied with the job done. He walks to CRIBBY JOE
PEON
Sir, I have sealed all the invitation envelopes.
CRIBBY JOE
Very good! Now, all we have to do is put these labels…
Cribby Joe hands him a stack of labels…
PEON
But Sir, which label goes on which envelope????
CRIBBY JOE and PEON both have a perplexed look on their faces…
We see the two of them tearing all the envelopes… both visibly stressed!
Back to STRESS BUSTER…
STRESS BUSTER
You see… poor planning and monitoring is one of the major causes of stress. If only CRIBBY JOE had planned the activity and monitored PEON's work, this would not have happened.
Another reason for stress is… Uncertainty… Check this out…
STRESS BUSTER flicks the remote again…
CRIBBY JOE is standing at a cross-road… There are an arrow signboard that has come loose from its plank… Cribby Joe starts walking in the direction pointed… just then a wind blows the arrow… and it points in another direction… Cribby Joe backtracks and starts walking in that direction… This happens a number of times and he finally sits down and refuses to move… Pulling his hair and jumping on the arrow…
STRESS BUSTER
If you are not certain about the course of action to take, you will spend lot energy in wrong directions… Your energy levels will suffer. Also, not knowing what to do for certain will leave you anxious and confused. In short stressed!
STRESS BUSTER
Poor Relationships in workplace is another factor leading to stress… If you are in poor relationships at work… this is what happens…
CRIBBY JOE is sitting at his desk… but he is constantly checking his back. A black shadow with dagger in hands keeps appearing whenever CRIBBY JOE is not looking but disappears as soon as he looks back…. Finally, CRIBBY JOE gives up what he is doing and starts watching his back full time… looking apprehensive and stressed…
STRESS BUSTER
If there is a lot of politics and back-biting in a workplace, relationships are strained. There is no sharing of resources, strengths or information… Also, we do not live a compartmentalized life… what happens at home affects our work and what happens at work affects our domestic life. Poor relationships at either place can induce stress.
Back to STRESS BUSTER in his chair…
STRESS BUSTER
This brings us to the next stress factor. Lack of Support. We are constantly looking for support from wherever we can get it.
CRIBBY JOE is at his desk working away feverishly on his computer. The female colleague is standing next to him and chatting away to glory… all the while filing her nails…
STRESS BUSTER
Be it in the form of approval or encouragement, consolation or motivation.
CRIBBY JOE looks helplessly at the MD who makes a thumbs up gesture to him…
STRESS BUSTER
Lack of support causes an emotional drain and leads to stress. Another factor is ignoring the bigger picture… we tend to get too involved in the task at hand and forget about the big picture. The job at hand becomes the whole and sole at the risk of harming the bigger plans of the organization.
CRIBBY JOE at his desk painting a part of jigsaw puzzle over and over again… while rest of the office is looking at the whole picture on the wall and pointing at the missing piece and getting worked up…
STRESS BUSTER
To minimize stress, it is important that priorities are right. If you fail to prioritize the right things - be it in a task list or in life on the whole, undue efforts and energy are wasted on doing things that are unimportant.
CRIBBY JOE is busy decorating a Valentines Day card for the female colleague and the MD walks up to him…
MD
Where is the project report I asked you for…?
CRIBBY JOE hides the card and gives a blank look
CRIBBY JOE
Sir… project report?
MD
Today is Monday. I had given you a week's time. I want that report on my desk in an hour… understood?
CRIBBY JOE
Yes, sir…
MD walks off… CRIBBY JOE gives a broken hearted look to the card and starts feverishly working on his computer…
STRESS BUSTER
If you are not honest in your dealings, a lot of bad-blood is created. If you are faking sales figures, it is bound to catch up with you somewhere, if you are bungling the accounts you will have sleepless nights. If you are passing someone else's work as yours, you will carry the guilt.
CRIBBY JOE presents an impressive project report to the MD. The boss is very happy.
Back at his desk, he starts deleting files from the computer…
STRESS BUSTER
Most of us want to impress superiors or prove a point to peers. In a bid to do so, we end up taking up too much responsibilities. "I will do it" becomes your motto. When asked if you need help, you scoff at the suggestion.
CRIBBY JOE wearing a Nike T-Shirt… volunteering to do all the work.
CRIBBY JOE
Don't worry sir, I will manage…
MD
You sure, you do not need help?
CRIBBY JOE
No sir… me help, he he he.. I will be fine…
CRIBBY JOE is busy working on several papers at one time… as the clock behind him shows 1O'Clock in the morning…
STRESS BUSTER
"I can do it" becomes your motto. When asked if you need help, you scoff at the suggestion. You end up getting pulled into stressful assignments just because you did so well the first time. You have brought the situation on your head and only you are to blame for the stress that comes with it.
STRESS BUSTER
Some professionals lose objectivity of the situation and start getting worked up when things start going haywire. Their fear the worst. And when that happens, everything is lost for them.
CRIBBY JOE pacing around as a team of colleagues is busy working… He keeps jumping when someone suggests something…
STRESS BUSTER
Instead of taking steps to mend the situation, they think it is all over. A fear that things will go wrong or a tendency to get worked up over mistakes is another factor that leads to stress.
STRESS BUSTER
So far, we have seen, what are the factors that cause stress… but what is the effect of stress. Stress drains you of physical, mental and emotional energy. And the one thing that suffers most is your ability to perform tasks.
Stress results in Impaired Performance Levels
CRIBBY JOE's project report is trashed into MD's trash bin.
Stress causes Burn Out
RE-PELE drained out
Distress leads to Job Dissatisfaction
ABLE DOGOOD takes a print out of his resume.
STRESS BUSTER
There are ways in which stress in the professional field can be minimized.
1. Well Defined Roles and Responsibilities
MD
JOE you will take care of the marketing and ABLE you will be responsible for all communication.
2. Procedural Clarity
ABLE preparing a communication plan and giving it to JOE
3. Access To Information
JOE receiving data from the research department.
4. Continuous Learning
JOE being awarded a diploma in a classroom full of colleagues.
5. Focused Approach
JOE concentrating on his job as the female colleague struts by.
6. Knowledge Sharing
ABLE and JOE working together on a plan… each providing his research data.
7. Honor Commitments
JOE shaking hands with ABLE.
8. Enjoying What You Do
ABLE and JOE having a satisfied look as their model for marketing is ready.
9. Plan Your Work
ABLE and JOE working on a paper making arrow marks and removing arrows going in reverse direction.
10. Learn with Experience
JOE shrugging nonchalantly as he gets a thumbs-down from MD.
11. Open Communication and Organizational Transparency
MD installing a glass cabin instead of a wood one… and JOE pressing a button and a notice being put up on the board declaring the sales figures.
12. Duty and Results
JOE sending a mail and sinking back in his chair.
13. Deserve versus Desire
JOE is looking at his pay-check. He makes an expression of disbelief… spreads his arms wide demanding more… The MD cuts a bonus check and brings JOE's arms closer together…
STRESS BUSTER
Summing Up
Stress at workplace is unavoidable.
It is caused when our energy levels cannot match up to the level of the challenges facing us. However, unwarranted stress can be reduced through simple steps taken at organizational and individual levels. I have just shared a few of the tips with you towards that goal. I am sure, none of us here like to be stressed. But if we indulge in little introspection and discussion, we will realize that most of the stress is self induced. We all have one thing in common - we all want to take up the highest challenges and perform to the best of our abilities. And we all want to get rid of unwarranted stress.
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