The Past Shapes the Future

Today while unpacking some boxes of “keepsakes” I was delighted to find an essay I did in college, I was 19 years old and studying in the Correctional Worker program. We had recently toured a number of federal penitentiaries in Canada and had to write an essay on the experience. Mine was titled “Prisons, People and the Personalities” March 2, 1984. And, it was done on a typewriter!

As I read through the fading ink on yellowing paper, I was taken back more than half a life ago to my first career, working as a Correctional Officer. The essay demonstrated where I had grown and changed as a professional, and how my past careers had shaped who I had become today. But what also struck me is how much I focused on my values in this report. Values of integrity, honor, forgiveness, trust, hope, compassion and doing the right thing. These same values are a foundation of who I am and how I run our business today.

1. Part of the essay focused on what I referred to as The inmates code (Gresham Sykes). It is intriguing to see that the inmates code, has great reference in the boardrooms, and staff rooms of every business and organization. Here's how I described the inmate’s code (developed by Gresham Sykes) in my 1984 report : Don’t interfere with inmate interests- don’t rat on another con
2. Don’t lose your head
3. Don’t exploit inmates
4. Don’t weaken- you should be able to “take it” and maintain your integrity in the face of deprivation
5. Don’t be a sucker

Here is how we can use those same codes but in our teams, and workplaces today to maximize workplace wellness, healthy teams and productive workplaces:

1. Don’t interfere with one another’s interests: avoid gossiping (of the negative kind), be careful what you say (people remember and are impacted), and don’t purposefully place people in uncomfortable or compromising positions.
2. Manage your emotions before they manage you, work through issues and conflicts early before they turn into bigger and more complex issues, talk to the person the issue involves. We show people how to treat us by how we act ourselves, make sure we are teaching people well.
3. Keep your promises, say what you mean and mean what you say, follow through and be trustworthy.
4. Maintain your values, act with integrity, and be open to learning
5. Do your research, trust your gut, and ask for help

A Sign of the Times

   

Many of us are well aware of situations or circumstances that cause us stress.  In the moment we can recognize the signs of emotional response to the stress we are suddenly experiencing.  Are we as good at recognizing stress over the long term?  What about stress that slowly creeps in?  The kind of stress that seems small but accumulates over time and before you know it, we are blowing our tops.  We have all experienced this stress at some time or another in our lives.  It isn't as easily recognized or noticeable in our lives until it accumulates and become too much.  

There are still ways of catching this stress before it becomes too much.  We need to be much more intentional about recognizing it before it becomes overwhelming. 

The following is a list of signs and symptoms of stress, personal and work related stress:

• weight change
• changes in hygiene
• posture
• trembling or shaking
• increased smoking or coffee drinking
• change in energy (highly energized, or lethargic)
• skin pallor or blushing
• breathlessness
• inarticulate speech
• sighing
• changes in health
• nail biting
• tearfulness
• frowning or overly serious
• tone of voice
• alcohol or drug abuse

Signs and symptoms of stress at work:

• being late for work
• absenteeism
• longer lunch breaks
• clock watching
• leaving early
• changes in productivity
• performance issues
• frequent mistakes or accidents
• poor memory
• difficulty making decisions
• impaired judgment
• lack of personal care
• loss of temper, mood swings, over-reactions
• withdrawal socially or isolating self
• poor time management and inability to meet deadlines
• low morale / commitment to the employer
• conflict in workplace relationships
• low efficiency

   Do any of these sound familiar? When you reflect on the particularly stressful times in your life, which of these were prevalent?  We can't always rely on the obvious emotional responses to stress.  Not everything that causes us stress is immediate, sometimes it happens over a prolonged period of time.  However, if we pay attention to our physiological responses we can still recognize and respond accordingly.  If any of these signs and symptoms stand out to you chances are they are the best indicators of sneaky stress in your life.  Evaluate these areas often and note any changes that you notice.  Once you have started regularly monitoring your emotional, psychological, as well as your physiological patterns, you will be able to recognize the signs of stress earlier and deal with it in a more effective way.

What are Your Triggers?

What comes to mind when you hear the word "Stress"? What does the word "stress" mean to you?
I have asked hundreds of people these two questions, and the answers continue to surprise me. However, what I have come to realize is, the responses always seem to fall under these four categories: people, situations, outcomes and feelings.

People often define the word stress associated with a specific individual, symptoms of stress, causes or a situation they have experienced, the results or outcomes of stress, or by feelings related to stress. Rarely do the people I ask actually define the word stress.

Let's look at how people define it, and then explore some more theoretical definitions of stress. The following is a list of common answers I hear related to these questions.

Stress is...

People: A supervisor, a team member, family member, neighbour, or _____(insert name)

Situations: Money, role confusion, change, conflict and disagreement, no down time, feeling inadequate or having unrealistic expectations can all be situational stressors. Dealing with negative people, unnecessary, relationship issues, parenting, marriage, or loss are also stressful situations.

Outcomes: Dissention, strained relationships, unresolved conflict, and the increased stress from these cause us more and more stress.

Feelings: Frustration, exaggerated emotion, pain, being tired, or feeling confused.

As you see, most of the responses are described in a negative way. However, stress in and of itself is not negative. Simply put, stress can be defined as any external events that have an effect on your body or mind. Stated another way, stress is anything that you respond to physically or mentally.  Stress can also be understood as the body's reaction to a change or event that requires either a physical, mental or emotional coping or response. Stress is the result of different stressors faced in life, sort of like the wear and tear on one's body from simply living.

The stress reaction is the result of a release of adrenaline (a stimulant hormone) as it enters the blood stream. This, along with other stress hormones, results in a number of physiological changes in the body (which are intended to be protective in nature). This is referred to as "the fight-or-flight response" because it provides both the strength and energy to either fight the situation or flee from danger. The physiological changes could include any or all of the following: an increase in heart rate and blood pressure (to get more blood to the major muscles, brain and heart), rapid breathing (to take in more oxygen), a tensing and tightening of muscles (preparation for action), increased mental alertness/sharpness and sensitivity of sense organs (to assess the situation and respond quickly), increased blood flow to the brain, heart and muscles and less blood to the skin, digestive tract, kidneys and liver (where it is least needed in times of crisis).

Think about a time where you experienced stress. A great example is driving a vehicle. Picture this: you are driving along listening to your favourite music, noticing some new buildings going up along the highway. Shifting your gaze back to the road, you look forward and realize the front of your vehicle is almost in the car in front of you. Slamming on your brakes, you avoid the accident. Your heart is racing, your breathing is more rapid, and thoughts may be racing through your head. That is an example of the stress reaction with physiological reactions, similar to when we are in conflict or experiencing a stressful situation at work.

The key to managing stress is recognizing the triggers that cause the stress and finding ways that work for you to control your response to those triggers. This won't be the same for everybody so you will need to really pay attention to your environment and how you are responding to the people, situations, outcomes, and feelings produced by your daily interactions.