Hello All,
I want to conduct a training on stress management in my software company. The company size is 40 people. Can u pls help me out with the requirements i wud need to conduct the same.
What can be included in this and how can i begin with it ? What content shud be included ? I am the only HR person who would be doing it.
Kindly suggest something.
________________
Ashlesha

From India, Mumbai
Dear Ashlesha,

My comments are as below: -

a) Stress is output and input. Stress is a result and not a cause. So address your training efforts to the cause and not towards the result. If you conduct the training on stress management, without curing the cause, you will require training once again.

b) Stress is a cause of organisational as well as personal factors. Fix the organisational factors first. Personal factors will follow automatically. Organisational factors include:

i) Improper manpower planning
ii) Improper recruitment (a square peg in round hole?)
iii) Lack of requisite skills among the staff members
iv) Management sets the goal but gives the wrong direction or no direction.
v) Management has its own clique and they listen to only those few.
vi) Excessive emphasis on customer satisfaction. This forces techies to take customers' calls even after midnight also. Technies cannot have adequate sleep because of this.
vii) Lack of well-defined system and process. When the systems and processes are not well-defined, the staffs who is recruited from diverse companies, do not unlearn. They bring baggage of the wisdom from their past companies and start off-lading it in their current company. This creates a classic hodgepodge.
viii) Slavish or sheepish adherence of the process. Since the process is not flexible, staffs end up in missing wood for the trees.
viii) Recurrence of the same mistakes. This happens because of the attrition.
ix) Management is eager to benchmark against industry leaders blindly. But then they cannot bring culture of those companies into their own company.
x) Management treats high-performers differently. But then these fair-haired chaps merrily rub other employees wrong way.

c) Yoga is another method of curing training this is what yoga trainers say. However, these problems arising out of humdrum activities of corporate life cannot have spiritual solution. If the water in the pot is boiling, then we must locate the knob and put the fire off. Yoga or any other stress handling remedy is something like putting ice cubes in boiling pot to reduce the temperature. As the ice melts, add few more ice cubes! But then this is not a permanent remedy to reduce the temperature.

d) There is lot of material available on the stress management. Many trainers download it and use it for the training (this includes me also). However, I have not come across with any trainer who has told me confidently that he could fix the employee stress permanently. So training efforts are like water off a duck's back.

e) Coming to your filling shoes of trainer. My experience is that in-house HR professionals do not succeed as trainers. However, if the objective is to have some training practice then you can go ahead. But then it would be in your company's interest to hire services of some external trainers.

These are my candid views. My candidness may ruffle the feathers of few of my fellow HR/trainers but my intention was not to do that!

Thanks,

Dinesh V Divekar




.

From India, Bangalore
Dear Ashlesha,
Dinesh Divekar has given you sound advice; hence, I will ask you some questions. Do you own the software company or work there? Are the 40 people under stress at work and expressed it or exhibited behaviour related to stress?
If you are not the owner, then what role do you have? Do you have any experience of conducting training? Just as children listen to non-family members about certain problems, staff also may respond to outsiders better than inside trainers.
Have a nice day.
Simhan
A retired academic in the UK.

From United Kingdom
Dear Ms. Ashlesha,
Warm greetings...

I had read my mentor's comments in regard your query. I second to my mentor.

Every Individual has got its own perception about STRESS. According to me, STRESS, has a purposeful meaning and it is very much required in our lives to an extent only. STRESS is a kind of CATALYST that makes us drive crazy to get our things done but, one should know the RIGHT PROCESS to get his things done rather trying the HARD WAY. Anyone who understood STRESS in the RIGHT MANNER, can easily deal with it and makes others to OVERCOME STRESS.

It is for sure that, we all are living our lives based on PARAMETERS. If one considers STRESS AS A PROBLEM then every problem has a solution. Many had tried to submit their solution pertaining to stress but, it is we humans are responsible for giving birth to STRESS(refer to STRESS FACTORS I to X, as stated by Mr. Dinesh)

To deal with stress, one has to demonstrate high MATURITY LEVELS, possess POSITIVE MINDSET/MENTAL ATTITUDE(positive thinking) and understand its ENVIRONMENT, COWORKERS and HIMSELF.

The best way to ADDRESS STRESS LEVELS in your organisation is to deliver training to TOP MANAGEMENT or SENIOR EMPLOYEES who has capacity and powers to solve the problems associated with STRESS LEVELS.

I dare to deliver permanent solution for STRESS LEVELS in any ORGANISATION but, i have certain terms and conditions to be met by TOP MANAGEMENT only. If any organisation is ready to accept my terms & conditions then, they can have my permanent solution for OVERCOMING STRESS, PERMANENTLY.

Good Luck..

With profound regards

From India, Chennai
Thank You for having suggested wisely in your own respective ways. I agree with each of you. coming back to Simhan's questions :

Simhan, I do not own the software company. I'm working as an HR person since 2 yrs. The HR function has started with my entry in the company and since then, m the only one handling all HR activities. Employee stress within my company is exhibited thru their behaviour.
I do not have an experience of conducting any training. My direct interaction with my employees related to HR is only during an induction activity, some employee engagement activities and when certain issues are discussed with me by my employees regarding work rules or any such measurements. At other times, we all are colleagues carrying out different roles.

Knowing the stress levels within my company, my Director has asked me if i would like to conduct a training program for stress as i had shown interest in conducting some training activity.

For the same reason, i have approached to this site for some feedback.

From India, Mumbai
Thank you for answering all my questions. My sincere advice is ask your colleagues to take some test such as the one at <link no longer exists - removed> which is based on Cary L. Cooper's work. Found at Google
And then engage an outsider to deliver a presentation. By staff taking their own test will be able to keep their responses confidential.
Have a nice day.
Simhan

From United Kingdom
Dear Mr. Simhan
Thank you very much for providing me link for STRESS MANAGEMENT, its quite useful and i am sure it will enhance productivity in our employees.
If you know similar test links for EFFECTIVE TIME MANAGEMENT, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS - ORAL & WRITTEN, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, ATTITUDE, CREATIVITY and more, kindly do share with me.
With profound regards

From India, Chennai
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