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Stress Resilient Workers

The most stress resilient workers…

1. work from realistic and flexible plans, prepare in advance and effectively manage their time
2. organize their time around well-thought out long-term plans (to make sure they are heading toward a meaningful goal) and short-term objectives. This gives them a sense of accomplishment. Being able to look at the long-view helps them to cope with short-term failure and frustration 
3. anticipate the consequences of their strategy or plans on people
4. create positive feelings in others by attending to their needs to feel:
1. Basic Trust – by being genuine and honest
2. Understood – by nonjudgmental listening
3. Valued – by listening for merit and communicating that back
4. Included – by inviting them to participate as part of the team, to give feedback
5. Respected  – by treating others in a way that acknowledges their status and role
6. Autonomous – by offering choices, allowing others to make their own decisions, and come to their own conclusions, rather than telling people what to do
5. can assert themselves by
1. setting limits
2. making requests to get essential needs met
3. responding to attacks and violations of their personal space
6. don’t take it personally when their own basic needs are ignored, frustrated or violated by others. They feel hurt, angry, etc., but know they are able to respond to their feelings in a more rational and controlled fashion and quickly get to solving the real problem.
7. see obstacles, adversity and even failure as challenges to overcome and grow from – they know how to make lemons out of lemonade
8. set their expectations based on reality rather than insist that reality conform to their expectations. The fewer “rules” a person has for how the world should behave, the fewer opportunities they will have to be upset when others break the rules.
9. don’t see themselves as victims but active agents and problems solvers.
10. measure their success in terms of what they contribute to others vs. what they get
11. maintain a healthy work-life balance
12. rely on a strong network of support and are not afraid to call on that network for help rather than carry the burden alone
13. set stretch goals, but appreciate what they have