Stress Management CompetenciesRoadshow Spring 2012

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Alan BradshawBusiness Psychologist

Partner, Work-Life Solutionswww.the-stress-site.net

alan@work-life-solutions.co.uk

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About Alan BradshawInvolved in stress management field since 1996

Founded first UK-wide stress consultancy 1998

Became a director of QoWL in 2007

Now Partner in Work-Life Solutions

Aim is to promote evidence-based approaches

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What we’re covering today

What are ‘Stress Management Competencies?Comparison with Management StandardsStress Management Competencies ResearchA look at the Framework and BEHAVIOURSSome discussion pointsTools, interventions and implementationQuestions

Not covering today: Case Studies (provided later)

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What are ‘Stress Management Competencies’?

Combinations of skills and behaviours

that line managers need to prevent and reduce stress at

work

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Standards v. CompetenciesStandards (2004)Clarified stress hazards‘Standards’ for eachSurvey tool to assess riskBenchmark performanceFocus: Organisational

stress mgt process Limitation: seen as

‘Health & Safety’ issue

Competencies (2010)

Competency FrameworkClarified skills and

behavioursBehavioural feedback Interventions to improve

manager behavioursFocus: day-to-day

people managementNot a substitute for stds

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Rigorousresearchprocess

1. Interviews with nearly 400 managers and employees + workshops with HR/OH/H&S

Produced framework with 19 behavioural themes

2. Questionnaire survey with over 800 managers and employees + further workshops

Refined framework to 4 broad themes, with 12 sub-themes

3. Testing whether we can help managers use and develop the behaviours identified

We can help managers change behaviour6

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Good and Bad Mgr Behaviours? Reflecting on your professional/work

experience, what manager behaviours:

Prevent or reduce stress (good behaviours)?

Cause stress, increase stress or create new stress (bad behaviours)?

Will the research findings agree with you? Let’s see…

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Management Competency FrameworkCompetency Sub-Competency

Respectful and responsible: Managing emotions and having integrity

Integrity

Managing emotions

Considerate approach

Managing and communicating existing and future work

Proactive work management

Problem solving

Participative/empowering

Managing the individual within the team

Personally accessible

Sociable

Empathetic engagement

Reasoning/Managing difficult situations

Managing conflict

Use of organisational resources

Taking responsibility for resolving issues

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Some important points…Line managers have a vital role

Framework contains the skills & behaviours known to prevent/reduce stress (and enhance wellbeing)

Overlaps with other frameworks but no other contains all the stress mgt behaviours

Awareness increased through using free tools

As behaviours can be taught, training is a key component of effective interventions

Let’s take a closer look at the behaviours…10

Managing with Respect

Managing with Respect is about managing emotions, having integrity and taking responsibility.

Specific behaviours:1. Integrity 2. Managing emotions 3. Considerate approach

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Discussion Point: TRUST

What leader/manager behaviours generate trust?

13 Behaviours of a High Trust Leader (Stephen M.R. Covey)

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Managing Workload

Managing Workload is about managing and communicating existing and future work.

Specific behaviours:1. Proactive work management 2. Problem solving3. Participative/empowering

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Discussion Point: TIME

Why don’t managers manage proactively?

What do managers spend the most time doing?

What needs to change to prevent/reduce stress?

How much time do managers need to manage workload proactively?

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Managing Individuals

Managing Individuals is about the way you manage and relate to individuals within the team.

Specific behaviours:1. Personally accessible 2. Sociable 3. Empathetic engagement

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Discussion Point: SOCIAL SPACES?

Are our workplaces / workspaces socially supportive and friendly places to be?

Why / Why not?

Has technology had a part to play?

What can we do to improve things?

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Managing Relationships

Managing Relationships is about reasoning and managing difficult situations at work, including conflict.

Specific behaviours:1. Managing conflict 2. Use of organisational resources 3. Taking responsibility for resolving

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Discussion Point: CONFLICT

Is conflict at work always a bad thing / something to be avoided?

How best should we deal with / respond to conflict in organisations?

What support do you feel managers need to manage conflict?

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Tools…There are three free tools: Stress Management Competency Indicator

Tool Individual / Self (excel and PDF versions) ‘Other’ version (PDF only)

Analysis Tool (excel) for upward feedback / 360

Scores from individual/other versions are entered and a report is generated

I’ll provide links to all tools after today’s event

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Interventions and ImplementationSelf-assessment using online or PDF toolUpward feedback / 360 assessment using self

and other tools + analysis tool to generate reports

Training (in-house, train-the-trainer options):In-house: awareness or workshop with

assessmentTTT: “Preventing Stress: Promoting Positive

Manager Behaviour”

Best? Upward Feedback Training SupportI’ll send details of training after today’s event

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Follow-up info and resourcesExtensive follow-up information by email

Research, web resources, case studies, audio/video, training info, LinkedIn group, further support etc.

Preventing Stress: Promoting Positive Manager Behaviour train-the-trainer course facilitated by Emma Donaldson-Feilder (dates/locations tbc)I’ll send info and a link to where you can register

Equips with skills to deliver workshop in-house and access to all training materials

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Any Questions?

Any questions on the research, framework, tools, interventions, training or anything related to the stress management competencies?

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Thanks for listening!Please pass me competed slips if you would

like me to send follow-up information

I’ll be in touch with links and resources, and information about the train-the-trainer courses

Alan BradshawPartner, Work-Life Solutions

alan@work-life-solutions.co.ukwww.the-stress-site.net

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