Good stress bad stress

GOOD STRESS, BAD STRESSPETER KAWALEK

DAVID [email protected]

[email protected]

GOOD STRESS & GREAT WORK

THE MESSAGE.

HUMAN BEINGS ARE DESIGNED TO HANDLE STRESS (PRESSURE).

WE TEND TO CALL IT ‘PRESSURE’ WHILE ITS STILL MANAGEABLE.

PRESSURE CAN BE INTENSE. AS LONG AS IT IS RESOLVABLE (OR OTHERWISE TRANSIENT) AND SHAREABLE, IT CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS OF GOOD WORK.

CREATIVITY UNDER THE GUN

Low Time Pressure + Little or No Encouragement, Little or No Collaboration, Groups (rather than Individuals): Autopilot Low Creativity

Low Time Pressure + Exploration: On an Expedition High Creativity

High Time Pressure + No focus: Treadmill Low Creativity

High Time Pressure + Focus, Meaningful Urgency: On a Mission High Creativity

Louise Amabile, Harvard.

CONSENSUS CAN BE OVERRATED

Manageable tensions often characterise the best teams.

Apple (e.g. Steve Jobs / Jonathan Ive).

Most boardrooms.

The Beatles (and lots of artistic endeavours).

Siemens Case Study (Manchester University).

BAD STRESS (& ITS REMEDY)

THE MESSAGE.

STRESS HORMONES RETAINED IN THE BLOODSTREAM LEAD TO WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND INCREASED MORTALITY.

PEOPLE LOWER IN THE HIERARCHY HAVE MORE STRESS HORMONES RETAINED IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

1. Robert Sapolsky

2. Whitehall I and II (British Civil Service)

Twenty five year study

Those of lower rank exhibit poorer health

Those of lower rank have more stress hormones in the bloodstream.

Some studies show that at awakening after sleep, all groups are equal but after 30 minutes, lower ranks show more stress (especially on a workday).

3. Why?

Lack of control.

Lack of predictability.

Uncertainty and fear.

Humans are engineered for fight/flight, not long-term residual stress.

Chronic Stress Disorder develops, worsening the immune system developing vulnerability to disease.

Chronic Stress Disorder is associated with strong team-players, carers, hard-workers.

3. Can Anything Be Done?

Elizabeth Blackburn on the mum’s group in California

Telomere deterioration (protective tips on the end of chromosomes) proportionate to severity of stress and duration.

Compassion promotes repair and potentially longeivity

Even though there is no solution.

RECAP OF THE MESSAGE.

STRESS HORMONES RETAINED IN THE BLOODSTREAM LEAD TO WORSE HEALTH OUTCOMES AND INCREASED MORTALITY.

PEOPLE LOWER IN THE HIERARCHY HAVE MORE STRESS HORMONES RETAINED IN THE BLOODSTREAM.

RECAP OF THE MESSAGE.

BUT ….. HUMAN BEINGS ARE DESIGNED TO HANDLE STRESS (PRESSURE).

WE TEND TO CALL IT ‘PRESSURE’ WHILE ITS STILL MANAGEABLE.

PRESSURE CAN BE INTENSE. AS LONG AS IT IS RESOLVABLE (OR OTHERWISE TRANSIENT) AND SHAREABLE, IT CAN BE PART OF THE PROCESS OF GOOD WORK.