Management Consultancy - Stress Management
Peak Performance approaches stress management from four levels.
These do not necessarily have to follow a chronological order
and some actions can be happening from different levels at
the same time.
The four levels are AWARENESS, INTERVENTION,
ACTION and REVIEW
1. AWARENESS
This can be provided in different forms:
a) Short seminars Useful for HR or occupational health departments
who may need to create stress awareness amongst senior management
and demonstrate the reasons for addressing the issue of stress
in the workplace.
b) Senior Management Briefings Aimed specifically
at senior management teams a 3 hour seminar to explain the
necessity for stress management in organisations. Includes
the business case with evidence of success in companies who
have implemented stress management initiatives. Also includes
legal duty of care and HSE guidelines for meeting legal duties.
Addresses role of managers at all level in tackling organisational
stress and how a manager can reduce stress for their staff.
c) Awareness training for staff. This
is aimed at raising awareness in all levels of staff and explaining
the need to take part in any stress audits. Causes of stress
will be discussed enabling responses may be used to produce
a relevant stress audit.
2. ACTION
Setting up a Stress Management Project
Stress management works most effectively if it is introduced
as a project. This will necessitate senior management commitment,
a project leader and a working party.
Research shows in large organisations such projects are most
effective if HR, occupational health and health and safety
are involved. Where possible working parties should also
represent all aspects of the business and staff of all
levels. Where
applicable union representatives should also be involved.
.
Producing a Stress Management Policy
Depending on the size of the organisation
this may be formal or informal. It may form part of a general
well being policy. Focus group research may first be required
to feed back into the policy. This could be done using Personal
Stress Management training in different areas of the organisation.
A Stress Management policy should include: