Introduction

So far in the course we have explored the relationship between stress and productivity in the workplace. We have considered some of the research and explored strategies that organisations and individuals can employ to manage stress and improve productivity. In particular, we have focused on two emerging trends that are changing the nature of work and working practices – that of remote working and of technology specifically email. Throughout the course we have touched on strategies than can be usefully employed to manage stress and improved productivity. But in this week’s work we really focus in detail on those strategies that individuals, and organisations can usefully employ.

Leading the work in this section are Andy McCann who is a visiting professor at Manchester Metropolitan University. Andy is a human performance specialist, and is a Director of DNA Definitive. He works with political leaders; with high net worth individuals and corporate business leaders; with world leading athletes and coaches (Olympic, Commonwealth and World Championship Level); the emergency services; the British armed forces; and, with not for profit and third sector organisations. To illustrate has co-written a series of acclaimed human resilience programmes that have been approved by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Royal College of Nursing, and adopted by, among others, critical care practitioners, the police, the fire and rescue service, air ambulance services and social services He has been commissioned by several organisations, including the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT), to develop Resilient Leadership Programmes; by the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) to develop a professional standards course to address undermining and bullying behaviour; by the military, to develop performance psychology programmes to support human performance; and by national governing bodies in sport, to develop a resilient leader programme.

The information Andy provides comes from his BASICS model and this forms the majority of the material covered in this section. We also refer to some of the work that Dr Martin Turner has led on around ‘thinking smarter’ and the importance of control. We hope you find some of the strategies useful and applicable to your personal situation and working environment.