Adaptability is the ability to keep functioning effectively when under pressure and maintain self control in the face of hostility or provocation.

An employee demonstrating this competency:

• Remains calm under stress
• Can effectively handle several problems or tasks at once
• Controls his/her response when criticized, attacked or provoked
• Maintains a sense of humor under difficult circumstances
• Manages own behavior to prevent or reduce feelings of stress

Stress Management is an essential competency in any job that involves high levels of stress — because of a need to meet continual deadlines, to make decisions under pressure, or to deal frequently with upset and angry people. In recent years many more jobs involve high levels of stress, because of increased pressure for results, threats of job loss, and an organizational environment involving continual change. Thus Stress Management is becoming more important for many more people.

To develop this competency, there are a variety of steps you can take to condition your body to better handle stress. First, it is critically important to maintain a balance between your work and the rest of your life, by allowing time to enjoy leisure activities and time with family and friends. Regular exercise several times a week is also beneficial. If you have been feeling unusually stressed, a program to learn and practice regular meditation may be helpful. In addition to these general life style changes, there are some specific job-related skills (e.g., time management and dealing with upset people) that you can develop through books or courses.

Practice remaining calm in stressful situations. Try to project a sense that you are calm and in control of the situation. Use a personal information management system (either a paper-based system such as Day Timers or a software program such as ECCO Professional or Lotus Organizer) to manage multiple projects Learn to use the tickler or alarm system to remind you of upcoming meetings and deadlines. Begin a program of regular exercise, such as walking or jogging during the lunch hour. Read The Relaxation Response, by Herbert Benson, and try regularly meditating every day. Encourage coworkers to practice stress management activities. Find and implement ways to make work tasks more fun.

Ask a coworker to observe you over a one-week period and tell you when you are exhibiting signs of stress. Ask coworkers to tell you what behaviors you exhibit that either manifest or transmit stress and what behaviors you exhibit that reflect good control of stress.

Talk to someone who is effective in managing stress. Ask what this person does to prevent stress and what he/she does to cope with highly stressful situations. Ask for descriptions of how the person handled specific, stressful situations.

If you are coaching someone who is trying to develop the compentency, you can: Model effective stress management. Make yourself available as a resource to discuss how to manage stressful situations.

By April 19, I will interview Joe Stourdy and ask him how he manages stress. By May 20, I will complete a stress management course and begin applying what I have learned. By June 15, I will read Coping with Difficult People, by Robert Bramson, and begin applying what I have learned in my interactions with Yma Weiner.

BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS

Adaptability: The Art of Winning in an Age of Uncertainty, by Max McKeown. 228 pages. Kogan Page, 2012.

Adapt: Why success always starts with failure, by Tim Harford, New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.

Dealing with Difficult People: 24 lessons for Bringing Out the Best in Everyone, by Dr. Rick Brinkman & Dr. Rick Kirschner. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2003.

Dot Calm: The Search for Sanity in a Wired World, by Debra A. Dinnocenzo & Richard B. Swegan. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2001.

Emotional Freedom: Techniques for dealing with emotional and physical distress, by Garry A. Flint. Vernon, BC, Canada: NeoSolTerric Enterprises, 2001.

Managing Workplace Chaos: Workplace Solutions for Managing Information, Paper, Time, and Stress, by Patricia J. Hutchings. New York, NY: AMACOM, 2002.

Mobbing: Emotional Abuse in the American Workplace, by Noa Davenport, Ruth D. Schwartz, Gail P. Elliott, & Sabra Vidali. Ames, IA: Civil Society Pub, 2002.

Reclaiming the Fire: How Successful People Overcome Burnout, by Dr. Steven Berglas. New York, NY: Random House Inc., 2001.

Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backwards, by Brian Luke Seaward. Duluth, MN: Whole Person Associates, Inc., 2007.

The Answer to How Is Yes: Acting On What Matters, by Peter Block. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, In., 2003.

The Overload Syndrome: Learning to Live Within Your Limits, by Richard A. Swenson. Menasha, WI: Navpress, 2002.

The Relaxation Response, by Herbert Benson & Miriam Clipper. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2000.

The Real 13th Step: Discovering Confidence, Self-Reliance, and Independence Beyond the12-Step Programs, by Tina B. Tessina. Franklin Lakes, NJ: New Page Books, 2001.

The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It, by Henry Thompson. 336 pages. Jossey-Bass, 2010.

Undress Your Stress: 30 Curiously Fun Ways to Take Off Tension, by Lois B. Levy. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2005.

Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, by Spencer Johnson. 96 pages. G. P. Putnam's Sons,1998.

WORKSHOPS & COURSES - PUBLIC, ONSITE, ONLINE

findcourses.com Educations Media Group (EMG).
https://www.findcourses.com/search/stress-management-training
https://www.findcourses.com/search/trainings?q=adaptability

LinkedIn Learning. 50+ online courses and videos..
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/search?keywords=adaptability

Building Resilience and Leadership in the Context of Crisis & Telework. One-hour on demand. Center for Creative Leadership. Tel. 336-288-7210.
https://www.ccl.org/webinars/building-resilience-and-leadership-in-context-of-crisis-and-telework/

Best Practices for the Multi-Project Manager Two days classroom or online. American Management Association. Tel. 800 250-5308.
https://www.amanet.org/best-practices-for-the-multi-project-manager/

Corporate Resilience Training. Onsite programs. TRACOM. Tel. 800-221-2321.
https://tracom.com/resilience-training

How to Develop Emotional Resilience to Manage Stress. 3-hour on-demand video program. Udemy.
https://bit.ly/3gz9VJd

Managing Emotions in the Workplace: Strategies for Success. Two days. American Management Association. Tel. 877 566-9441.
https://www.amanet.org/managing-emotions-in-the-workplace-strategies-for-success/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
See Appendix