How Does Stress Affect Me?

• Stick the Post-it notes on a flip chart, keeping the colors separate and use this for the basis of a group discussion.
• Ask for suggestions for how to deal with the negative reactions to stress in an effective manner. You may want to note these on the flip chart and also add your own suggestions.

Apply Learning (5 Minutes)

• Ask the participants to now write down a time they reacted positively during a stressful time and how they can encourage this self-management.
• In addition, ask each participant to write down three of the negative reactions they personally display in times of stress in the table provided. Using the previous discussion as a guide, ask them to note down how they could effectively manage these reactions.
• Participants may find it useful to think of a rhyme or some key words for each negative reaction to stress that they can recall in future stressful situations.
• You may wish to follow up this diagnostic with another EQ exercise.

How Does Stress Affect Me? – Task Sheet

A person with high emotional intelligence is better equipped to deal with their emotions. Stress, being a common emotion experienced in the workplace, can have both positive and negative impacts on the way people work. It is therefore important that this emotion is managed effectively.

Task

The following checklist is designed to help you to recognize how stress affects your relationships and interactions with colleagues, and to make you consider ways of overcoming the negative impacts that stress can have on you. Work through the following checklist, answering ‘true’ or ‘false’ for each statement.

When stressed I...

True

False

1. tend not to talk to other colleagues

2. become frustrated with those who interrupt me

3. find it difficult to set aside time to discuss the problems of other colleagues

4. find that my body language becomes aggressive and defensive

5. am less likely to notice a colleague who is also suffering

6. tend to be less sympathetic than I usually would be

7. may 'snap' at a colleague who is irritating me

8. make my emotional state of stress obvious to others through my statements and actions

9. find it more difficult to participate in teamwork

10. am more likely to reach my target

11. often feel overwhelmed by my workload

12. find that I work more productively

After completing the checklist, score your answers as follows:

1. True = 1, False = 0

2. True = 1, False = 0

3. True = 1, False = 0

4. True = 1, False = 0

5. True = 1, False = 0

6. True = 1, False = 0

7. True = 1, False = 0

8. True = 1, False = 0

9. True=1, False = 0

10. True = 0, False = 1

11. True = 1, False = 0

12. True = 0, False = 1

If you score highly, you need to rethink your reaction to others when you are under stress, otherwise you risk jeopardizing your work relationships. If you are aware that you are under pressure, it may help to acknowledge this, and to make a particular effort in your dealings with others.

Now, in pairs you will be asked to consider why you answered yes or no to each question. Try to think of some real life examples where you have reacted both positively and negatively in stressful situations.

Using the space below, note down a time you reacted positively during a stressful time. How can you encourage this self-management in future situations?

Now, using the table below, note down three negative reactions you personally display in times of stress. Next to these write how you can effectively manage these reactions.

Negative Reactions

Effective Management

1.

2.

3.

Now, write a positive message to yourself; something you can recall easily in times of stress. Alternatively, you might find an image more effective.