Discover some important facts about stress in the workplace; questions to ask about the kind of stressors we face; the difference between Eustress and Distress; and the need to find meaning in your stress.

1. Stress in the Workplace – under the
current climate
1
Presented by
Norm Turkington
Consultant Psychologist, Management Training Facilitator
and Executive Coach
www.ntatoday.com
www.ntatoday.com

2. Viktor Frankl (1905 – 1997)
 “For too long we have been dreaming a dream from which
we are now waking; the dream that if we just improve the
socio-economic situation of people, everything will be OK.
The truth is that as the struggle for survival subsided the
question has emerged, ‘Survival for what?’ Ever more
people today have the means to live, but no meaning to
live.”
2www.ntatoday.com

3. The rise and fall of a person
3
Acceptance and love from others
Membership in a strong team
Self respect
Here and now tasks
Long-term goals
Self-transcending values
Dependable meaning
Steps
In
A
Child’s
Personal
Growth
DISABLED
BY
DISTRESS
Steps
In
An
Adult’s
Personal
Deterioration
www.ntatoday.com

4. Some important facts about stress . . .
 Biochemical stressors:
 agents or experiences which impair bodily health, e.g. viruses, bacteria,
fatigue, insomnia, injuries etc.
 Psychological stressors:
 Positive: passing exams; succeeding at work; achieving difficult goals and
other achievements.
 Negative: bereavement; broken relationships; financial difficulties; concern
and anxiety about the future.
 When confronted with crises we can perceive it/them as either
a challenge or a catastrophe
4www.ntatoday.com

5. Two questions . . .
 What kind of stressors is this person facing?
And
 What kind of person is facing these stressors?
5www.ntatoday.com

6. Five personal resources . . .
Mind
People
Behaviour
Body
Things
6www.ntatoday.com

7. 7
My Personal
Balance Sheet
www.ntatoday.com

8. Eustress ~ Distress
 Distress is our predicament when the accumulation of stressors
we have been experiencing exceeds our personal resources for
dealing with them successfully.
 Eustress means “good, desirable stress”. When in this pleasant
state we can manage the challenges and catastrophes of life
producing symptoms of distress.
 The greater our personal resources the more stressors we can
encounter without becoming distressed.
8www.ntatoday.com

9. Eustress ~ Distress
9
A. Defensiveness
 denial, displacement
B. Disturbances
 cynicism, irrational
fears, constant
fatigue
C. Disorders
 psychosomatic
illness, addictions
D. Psychoses
 paranoia,
schizophrenia
E. Death
www.ntatoday.com

10. The Leaders Axiom
10
STRESS
MINUS
MEANING
EQUALS
APATHY
CYNICISM
DESPAIR
FUTILITY
www.ntatoday.com

11. Want more? Contact us
 Norm Turkington
 02 9482 7704
 Q4@bigpond.com
 www.ntatoday.com
11www.ntatoday.com