bcLivingwithStressDecember1998Copyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.Author:Contributor:StevenAndersonDiannaMagnani2LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSAgenda•WhatisStress?•NegativeStressOverloadSymptoms•ManagingStress–DefiningYourLifePurpose–ConductingaPersonalInventory–MinimizingVulnerabilitytoNegativeStress–IdentifyingStressTriggerEvents–StressManagementTechniques•KeyTakeaways3LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSDefinitionofStressStressisanormalandnaturalphenomenoninourlives.Itisthenaturalconflict,opposition,orresistancethatoccursinourbodyaswecontinuallyadjusttoourchangingenvironmentandlife.4LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSTheRoleofPerceptionsPerceptionsInternalDemands•responsibilities•obligations•selfcriticismExternalDemands•work•family•social•environment•financialAttitudes,values,andbeliefsStressresponsePastexperiencesStressresultsfromourperceptionsofanevent.Anevent,inandofitself,isnotstressful.Itisourperceptionoftheeventthatactivatesourbody’sstressresponse.5LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSThebody’snormalphysiologicalreactiontostressisasfollows:StressResponseEventPerceptionsBodyreleasesstresshormonescausingthe“FightorFlight”responseBodydischargesenergybyfighting,fleeingorexpressingemotionBodyinducesrelaxation,reversingpreviousreactions6LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSPersonalIntegrityandLifePurposePositivestressishealthyandresultsfromeventsthatareinalignmentwithourpersonalintegrityand/orourtruepurposeinlife.Negativestressisdestructiveandresultsfromeventsthatarenotinalignment.Personalintegrity:Lifepurpose:•Havingpersonalintegritymeanslivingtruetoasetofvalues,beliefs,andprinciplesthatgivedirection,balance,andfocustoyourlife.•Everyindividualhasapurposeinlifethatiscompletelyunique.Ourmostimportantjobinlifeistodiscoverandthenfulfillourpersonalpurpose.•Somepeopleknowwhattheirpurposeisearlyinlife;othersdiscoveritovertime-theirpurposeisrevealedtothemverymuchlikethecluesinatreasurehunt,oneclueatatime.7LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSPositivevs.NegativeStressPositiveandnegativestressimpactusverydifferently.PositiveStressNegativeStress•Providesthetensionnecessarytomakeusstronger•Gearsusuptomeetthedemandsofasituation•Compelsustoaction•Wearsusdown•Canleadtofeelingsofmistrust,anger,rejection,ordepression•Canleadtominororseriousillness•Deadlines,competition,confrontations,andevenourfrustrationsandsorrows,canadddepthorexcitementtoourlives•Doingthingsthatwedreadtodocansapourenergyandcloudourjudgment8LivingwithStressbcCopyright©1998Bain&Company,Inc.LivingwithStressBOSSignsofStressSignsofPositiveStressSignsofNegativeStress•Senseofexcitement•Abilitytogetalotofthingsdoneandbenaturallychargedtotakeonmore•Feelingthattimeispassingbyquicklybecauseyouarefullyengagedintheactivity•Beliefthatthingshappenwithease•Feelingthatextraordinaryresultsareproduced,almostasifbymagic•Feelinghealthy•Senseofdread,resentment,angerorfrustration•Feelingdrainedofenergy•Feelingthattimedragson.Youareawareoftimetickingawayoryouarewatchingtheclockasyoulaboriouslyworkonanactivity•Beliefthatalmosteverythingisastruggle,afight•Feelingthatpredictableresultsareproducedandonl...
