#######################################                Home        Other Issues 

      KEYZINE: An e-zine for LEADERS:
     ABOUT THE PEOPLE PART OF BUSINESS
                 Volume 32, November 2003
    Publisher: © Key Associates, 2003
              ISSN # 1545-8873
           http://www.mkkey.com

#######################################

New contact info for Key Associates:
phone (615) 665-1622/fax (615) 665-8902

#######################################

This Issue: On "Renewing Ourselves"

Other Issues

Contents:

• What's Hot in Leadership
• Maintaining Yourself as a Leader
• Frequently Asked Questions from Leaders
• Educational Opportunities
• Useful Websites
• Articles/Publications

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." 
                                                        - Anais Nin

"(t)he antidote to exhaustion is not necessarily rest...
(it) is wholeheartedness."
                                                        - David Whyte 

"Every pearl is the oyster's small victory over irritation."
                                                        - Anon

"Things turn out best for the people who make the 
best of the way things turn out."
                                                        - Art Linkletter        

**************************************
WHAT'S HOT IN LEADERSHIP
**************************************
DESIGNING WORK TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PERSONAL GROWTH, AUTONOMY AND
VARIETY.  ALLOWING PEOPLE TO GOVERN
THE PROCESSES THEY OWN.

AVOIDING OVERLOAD BY SEEKING OUT 
AND LETTING GO OF NON-VALUE-ADDED WORK.

PUTTING WORK IN PERSPECTIVE AND 
KEEPING IT THERE--AS ONLY A PART OF 
LIFE'S CONTINUUM.

PROVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ASSOCIATES
TO INTERACT IN NON-WORK WAYS.

***************************************
MAINTAINING YOURSELF AS A LEADER
***************************************
Begin by analyzing your own style and personality.
Are you impatient, hurried, frustrated with others,
and trying to do several things at the same time
(called stacking)?  Take you own pulse--you may 
be the very model of burn-out.  Your actions set
the tone for the prevailing work model.  Breathe, 
take stock of what's important, and get a life.

Ask yourself if you are:

1. Overly perfectionistic?
2. Socially isolated or at odds with people?
3. Physically manifesting stress
through headaches, upset stomach, weight gain 
or loss, teeth grinding, sleep disturbances?
4. Increasing your dependence on
drugs, alcohol, food and other addictive
substances?
5. Short-tempered?
6. Down in the dumps, drained or negative?
7. Avoiding decisions, work, commitments?
8.  Feeling the "blahs" (inertia, apathy)?

If any of these symptoms of stress describe you, 
read on for some tips from the experts.

**************************************
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
**************************************
Job stress is a fact of life in this economy, with 
all the down-sizing and economic pressures.  How
do we fit in a "stress management" program?  

Simple teachings.  Help people:
* Mentally shift their view from crisis to challenge.
* Manage time--prioritize, but don't be ruled by to-do lists.
* Adopt healthy living--exercise, eat well, and get enough sleep.
* Seek social support--family, friends, co-workers.
* Eliminate substance abuse.
* Relax--deep breathing, creative enterprise, laughter, play.
* Share the load--delegate, manage up, consult with.
* Let go of things they have no control over.
* Live one day at a time.
* Cultivate optimism (see our last month's E-zine
   on the topic Volume 31, October 2003).

We are so short-staffed, I can't give people time
off right now, and I can tell they need it.

Instead of time off, how about "Time-Out?"
This isn't a coffee break.  It's time when employees
are shifted to less stressful work, while fresh
troops are assigned to the tasks.  Disney uses
this rotation system routinely to divert boredom
and keep people fresh.  Associates may move from
driving the tram to taking tickets to sweeping 
and greeting.

Create Time-Out space, free from distraction,
 where people can sit and relax, close their eyes
and mentally envision themselves in the mountains
or at the beach.  Take a walk or a breathing break.  
Connect with nature.  Play music.  It only takes 
10 minutes to revive a person.  

If they can't leave their desk, do yoga there
(http://www.mydailyyoga.com/yogaindex.html).

When the holiday season should be down time,
why are we stressing out more?

Here are some of the causes (outside of work),
offered by Dr. Morton C. Orman:

 #1: Social and Personal Expectations
 #2: Too Many Responsibilities
 #3: Trying To Change Or Control Other People
 #4: Unpleasant Memories (of Holidays)
 #5: Unpleasant Emotions And Other Body Reactions
 #6: Blaming Yourself Or Others When Things Go Wrong
 #7: Failing To Anticipate Likely Problems And Delays
 #8: Using Food, Drugs, Or Alcohol To Cope With Stress
 #9: Expecting Things To Go Well
 #10: Expecting Others To Behave As You Prefer

Read on for more details and his cure 
http://stresscure.com/health/holidays.html

**************************************
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
**************************************
A one-hour PowerPoint to download and use in
Stress Management Training
http://stressstop.com/?source=overture

Phone and e-mail consultation, as well as pre-
recorded job stress help tips 
http://www.jobstresshelp.com/

Your one-stop guide to stress resources
http://stress.about.com/library/bljobstresscenter.htm

**************************************
OTHER USEFUL WEBSITES 
**************************************
A collection of stress tests/resources
http://www.rudebusters.com/stresqwz.htm

A resource for relieving stress and enjoying life
http://stresscure.com 

The Job Stress Network of the Center for 
Social Epidemiology http://www.workhealth.org/

A link to more links
http://www.heartskillscoach.com/job-stress.shtml

**************************************
ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS                              
************************************** 
http://store.yahoo.com/stress/books.html