Saturday, June 12, 2010

Burlington Chamber of Commerce Event

Join me for a networking breakfast and seminar.

Stress Reduction 101

Being an entrepreneur can be stressful. Are you concerned about your next sale, your employees, dealing with clientele, and the home issues? Then attending Stress Reduction 101 will help give you insight into the “whys?” along with some practical “how to” answers. Stress is here to stay but how we handle it can make all the difference in the world. Stress Reduction 101 is an entrepreneurial customized workshop . . . practical, interactive and fun! Learning useful tips to help manage and feel less stress at work, develop skills, create a stronger team helping you to build a successful business. Learn from two experts with over 20 years of experience in stress management and emotional health.



Topics for Stress Reduction 101:

Coping in crazy times - being aware of your personal stress “temperature” and learning ways to bring it down


Creative thinking and problem solving to manage our own emotions and the emotions of others


Improving personal and sales skills by learning techniques to remain calm and in control


Learning the links between stress and illness and how this can be avoided.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Link Between Stress and Absenteeism

According to Statistics Canada, December 19, 2007, high self-perceived work stress was strongly related to taking disability days. Almost one in five men and women who perceived their regular work days to be stressful took at least one disability day in the last two weeks.

In a representative study by Angus Reid of 1000 employees across Canada, 55%
of workers felt they were stressed and had too much to do in too little time.
According to Northwestern National Life, one-fourth of employees view their
jobs as the number one stressor in their lives.

According to Canada Safety Council report dated April 2008; mental health
claims are the fastest growing category of disability costs in Canada. They account for an estimated 30 to 40 percent of the disability claims recorded by Canada’s major insurers and employers. Three-quarters of employers say mental health issues are the leading cause of short and long term disability claims in their organization.

According to the Institute for the Study of Labour, people who report some
stress in their jobs are 10-14% more likely to be absent from work.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

“Do I Stay or Do I Go?”-An uncomplicated way to improve morale and increase retention

You have just laid off three employees and the remaining staff are stressed and fearful that they may be next or; they are stressing over how they will manage the increased workload. How do you keep morale up, retain your talent and maintain or improve productivity? Improve your communication. No human relationship, whether it’s a marriage or a corporation, will thrive if the communication breaks down.
I had worked for a pharmaceutical company for five years and we were able to retain our talent and keep morale high.
What was our secret? Why did people stay with our company? The communication was open and encouraged from the President through to the sales reps. Consistent communication diminishes the fear and stress in the work environment and diminishing or reducing stress is key to morale, productivity, and retention.
Quick Tips
1. Learn to communicate effectively. If communication is not your strength, hire an executive coach. Good communicators are taught not born.
2. Listen. Listening is active not passive. Give people the opportunity to share their success stories and their problems.
3. Lead by being positive. Positive leaders instill trust, hope, a sense of worth and competency in their people.
According to Saratoga research Institute, 89% of managers believe employees leave for more money and 88% of employees leave for reasons other than money.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Hands On Tips for Coping with Stress at Work

1. Communication- keep people in the know as much as possible.Provide them with relevant and timely information.

2. Prioritize- everyone feels the stress and it worsens when you get twice the workload because your buddy called in a sick day. Look at the work, create a list of action items, prioritize,move forward.

3. Remain focused on the present. Stop getting anxious or fearful about what might happen 3 days from now. Ask yourself, "what are three things I can move forward today?". This will help you to remain on target.

4. Take your breaks.A quick 5 minute walk will restore some balance.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Work Related Stress

Stress has 3 components
1)The event- can be physical or emotional-perceived as a threat
2)The brain- how is the threat being processed by the brain
3)Stres response- how we adjust our behaviour to the threat

How we define the stressor depends on the meaning we attach or give it.Meaning comes from our own unique experiences in life. If we lived with a physically abusive parent, then conflict on the job would cause significant stress.

In stressful times, our bodies physically react before we "think things through".
Your mother was right, count to 10 and take deep breaths before you react.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Are You Stressed?

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For many people, seeking counseling is shameful or embarrassing. Stresschat’s unique one-on-one instant chat puts you in direct contact with a counsellor without going to an office. You get total anonymity with the expertise of a professional.

We are pleased to have partnered with Company of Women to offer an exclusive offer to members. Considering the health impact of unmanaged stress, this web-based service can prove to be invaluable to you and your work place. It is available when needed, offers help and is anonymous.

Company of Women members receive a 10% saving off the regular fees.
See what the Company or Women can offer you.http://www.companyofwomen.ca