Steven Watson of Stepwell Consultancy Ltd managed to squeeze a huge amount of fascinating information into his talk on stress issues. He was full of wisdom with lots of practical suggestions as to how to begin to tackle this universally experienced and sometimes crushing phenomenon.

He began by pointing out that stress has replaced backache as the number 1 reason for absence from work. This does not trivialise the problem but highlights how difficult and important it is to manage stress well.

He led the group in trying to define stress but we all had different answers, depending on our experiences and the situations that generate stress in each of us. Steven pointed out that stress itself, although it is perceived as negative, can be a vital motivator when it is within comfortable, managed limits. The real problems come with chronic stress – living for years with a constantly clenched fist, as our flight/fight response is continuously triggered.

He asked us to look at the factors that cause stress, helpfully categorising them as external factors (environmental, social, economic), pressures that come from around us, e.g. pressures from global competition, business slowdown, from family relationships or colleagues, or from the place we live or work. There are also internal factors (psychological, emotional, behavioural) that come from our make-up and grow from within us. These can be hidden but are no less real to the individual’s experience of stress.

Steven suggested that it is important to be aware of our personal thinking errors so that we can gain some sort of control over them. Our perception of difficult or unpleasant events can heighten our experience of stress when our thinking is negative. He gave some examples of ones that often are not only a response to stress but are contributing factors:

1. All or nothing thinking – “If I don’t get it right I’m a total failure”
2. Jumping to conclusions – with no real evidence “the boss has got it in for me!”
3. Mind reading – assuming what other people think without checking
4. ‘Should’ statements – “I should have … “ leads to unrealistic expectations and guilt
5. Labelling – “I am a complete failure”
6. Magnification – “It’s the worst thing that could happen to me”
7. Fortune telling – “She ignored me, we’re not friends anymore”
8. Generalisation – “No point in applying, I’ve already been turned down by five employers”

If we are experiencing chronic stress – it is important to take action now. He gave us eight points to help stimulate a re-balancing in life and work:

1. Recognise how the world of work has changed. We cannot just do what we used to do.
2. Evaluate our relationship to work. Fatigue, family, friends, expectations, what can be changed?
3. Assess our personal drivers. Our personal identity, value system, parental influences, our success criteria all need to be looked at on a regular basis.
4. Be aware of the impact of other people’s expectations. Peer pressure, herd mentality, hidden agenda and unrealistic goals are often other people’s heavy loads, which we do not have to carry.
5. Discover your boat. Create real space, learn to say no, fight the guilt, practice rest and learn to say, “No” Even Jesus made time to sleep in a boat!
6. Invest in your private world. Slowing, solitude, spirituality, soundproofing the heart all take time, effort and determination but they pay off hugely.
7. Look after yourself properly. Just because we all know this but rarely do it – doesn’t mean to say that it does not make a difference. Recreation, sleep/eat well, protect your days off, train ourselves to relax, write it out, trust a friend with your stuff, seek professional help.
8. Remain positive. Stop negative thought patterns – get off the tram lines, put things in perspective, re-frame your thinking, it’s OK to learn from mistakes, break up the monotony, laugh more, be thankful!

By now we were almost out of time but Steven had struck a rich vein of wisdom for us. He didn’t have had time to point us to ten growth areas, but hopefully he’ll come back and tell us about them another time. He finished with emphasising the importance of identifying key actions and doing them now so that stress does not become an issue.

The March lunch-time event was a great success and considered the topic of Strategic issues. Ewan Mearns from Scottish Enterprise led us skilfully and thoughtfully through this issue and provided relevant insight and useful advice.

Ewan firstly highlighted that we live in a world of global change and shifts, where we need to adopt skills, strategies and tactics to embrace that change. With climate change and political changes at the forefront of the media, there are very few constants. Alterations in family, spiritual, lifestyle and behaviour patterns are frequent. Advancements in technology and engineering have provided opportunities, innovations as well as posing questions.

Often change, combined with complexity, can result in confusion. Ewan suggested various tools in order to overcome this confusion and navigate the times of change. He highlighted the importance of acknowledging how individuals respond to change and can be affected by it but also that businesses must be prepared to adapt in a changing environment. He explained how strategic planning should resemble a nimble yacht, able to set its sights on the distance but navigate around obstacles on the way. This is as opposed to the previously common view of strategic planning being like a tanker or battleship, setting its direction ahead with little room for manoeuvring on the way.

Ewan provided some useful tips for navigating change. He suggested that we take the long view – plan ahead and identify strengths and capabilities. It is also important to ensure that we remain flexible and open to change.

Ewan provided some notes of encouragement by highlighting that, even in the current climate, there will be opportunities and a silver lining to each cloud and that we should have faith and perseverance (Proverbs 22).

”Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” Margaret Mead, Anthropologist

This encouraging and practical look at Strategic issues was closed with a question and answer session raising such diverse issues as the concentration on visual imagery in planning and demonstration, the difficulties of introducing a ‘S.W.O.T’ analysis outwith the business context in a church environment, the difference between strategy and tactics, and the opportunities that will exist and arise out of the present financial crisis.

We thank Ewan Mearns and everyone who joined us at this event. The PowerPoint presentation for this talk is available on request.