Working and Leading Through Challenging Times · Healthy Body Stay Connected Practice Positive...

Caterpillar: Confidential Green

March 2020

Working and Leading Through

Challenging Times


Agenda

• The personal and organizational impact of stressful events

• Leaders’ roles in developing hardiness and resilience

• Difficult conversations

• Supporting distressed employees and preventing workplace

violence

• Using EAP as a leadership tool

2


Agenda

• The personal and organizational impact of stressful events

• Leaders’ roles in developing hardiness and resilience

• Difficult conversations

• Supporting distressed employees and preventing workplace

violence

• Using EAP as a leadership tool

3


If the oxygen mask drops

down, put your own mask

on first, before helping the

person next you.

“

”4


Stress

A natural response to any demand, positive

or negative, placed upon an individual…

…becoming problematic when there is an

imbalance between our coping skills and the

demands of the environment.

5


Yerkes Dodson Law (1908)

6


Stressors

Physical Symptoms• Sleep

• Decreased energy

• Appetite changes

• Aches and pains

• Memory and concentration

Behaviors• Relationship conflict

• Social withdrawal

• Lower productivity

• Lethargy

• Reckless and impulsive behaviors

Thoughts and Feelings• Sadness and depression

• Anxiety

• Negatively

• Loneliness

Work Relationships

Family Change

Health Injury

Finances Daily irritations

Even positive events, like holidays

7 7


Those most at risk:

• Severe or chronic health problems

• Significant, multiple, unpredictable, or prolonged changes, particularly

those unwanted or not in our control

• History of emotional problems, trauma or very limited resources

• Financial strain or job instability

• Social isolation

8


This is not to suggest, “it’s all in your head.” Those most at risk:

• Severe or chronic health problems

• Significant, multiple, unpredictable, or prolonged changes, particularly

those unwanted or not in our control

• History of emotional problems, trauma or very limited resources

• Financial strain or job instability

• Social isolation

9


Hardiness isa protective or preventive factor

against stress. How resistant

you are to the emotional and

physical impact of adverse

events. It’s predictive of

Resilience.

Challenge Control CommitmentSeeing change as

an exciting

opportunity for

growth.

A sense of purpose

and self-efficacy.

Confidence that

you can influence

outcomes in your

life.

View life as

interesting, full of

challenges to

overcome.

3 Cs of Hardiness

10


Resilience isthe ability- a set of skills- that

allow us to effectively cope with,

rebound from and even learn

from daily stressors, both large

and small.

11

Visit EAP.cat.com for more information and resources on Resilience.

11

https://totalhealth.cat.com/en/eap/learning.html


Healthy Behaviors

Healthy Body Positive OutlookStay Connected Practice Mindfulness

The Fundamentals of Resilience

…like time management, work-life balance, hobbies, volunteering and taking on new challenges.

Healthy diet, physical activity, good sleep habits, limiting substance use and regular wellness check-ups.

Right-size social interactions and having at least 1-2 people who offer regular support. Avoid isolation and social withdrawal during stressful times.

Understand your motivation and purpose for work. Slow your body down by practicing relaxation and mindfulness.

Healthy, rationale interpretations of the world around us. Avoid rigid, inflexible thinking.

12 12


Everything can be taken from a man

(or woman) but ...the last of the

human freedoms – to choose one's

attitude in any given set of

circumstances, to choose one's own

way.

“

”13

Caterpillar: Confidential Green 14

Characteristics of leading for Resilience

14


Employees want to know what is going on and what to expect. They need to make sense

of things. If they don’t have reliable information, they may rely on unreliable information.

• Be visible and present

• Frequency

• Transparency and openness

• Authenticity

• Informality

• You may be the main source of information. So share often and as detailed as possible.

15

Communicate, communicate, communicate


• Routines and habits reduce the energy needed to make many micro

decisions each day and help increase a sense of predictability and

control.

• Predictable behaviors and interpersonal styles.

• Make schedules and stick to them.

• Expect discipline and consistency from their teams.

16

Routines, consistency and predictability


• They can be authentic at work.

• They demonstrate the value of relaxation while still delivering.

• The encourage their teams to have work-life balance and use

their time off.

17

Have fun at work and encourage downtime


• Set good boundaries between your time, work and people. Recognize when

enough-is-enough.

• Encourage flexibility in your team where possible. Allow employees to set limits

and balance competing demands.

• Be very clear about goals, roles, accountability and expectations

• Identify employees who are under stress. Encourage, support and make

referrals to prevent stress from impacting performance.

18

Set limits and encourage good boundaries


No one gets stronger by avoiding challenges and dodging stress. New challenges stimulate

our minds and create the reward of accomplishment.

• Set demanding short term goals. Encourage your team to take on new challenges, even

during tough times.

• Promote accountability and problem solving. Reward risk taking, persistence and

execution.

• Use challenging times as opportunities for your employees to grow and develop.

• Reassure and build your team’s confidence.

19

Ask your team to carry the heaviest things they can


• Take care of YOUR health. You are a better leader when experience health and

well-being yourself.

• Promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle, particularly during stressful times

• Foster an atmosphere that encourages relaxation and mindfulness, even when

the pace is fact and expectations are high.

20

Model good health and promote well-being


• Be self-aware, empathetic and understand how their

actions impact those around them.

• Stay “tuned in” to the climate AND individuals.

• Show empathy and understanding.

• Adjust your behavior to the needs of the team.

• Focus on relationships and resolving conflicts.

21

Build and demonstrate Emotional Intelligence


• Ensure you have 1-2 close confidents at work and home

• Avoid isolation. Keep the door open.

• Carve out time before/after meetings to socialize and

reconnect.

• Be the person your people want to talk to.

22

Stay connected


• Help employees keep a line of sight between their work

and company’s success, including what is needed during a

crisis.

• Keep them informed.

• Get them involved. Solicit feedback.

• Get them thinking about why we all chose to come to work

today.

23

Know the purpose and communicate it


• Recognize that our perception of the events in our world influence our

emotional and physical reactions.

• Avoid:

- Blame

- Rigid, absolute and black-and-white thinking

- Perfectionism, entitlement thinking and catastrophizing.

- Obsessing over the future or past, and focus on the hear and now

• Recognize negativity in others and talk about it.

Reframe and keep an keep a positive outlook

24


Healthy Behaviors

Healthy Body Positive OutlookStay Connected Practice Mindfulness

The Fundamentals of Resilience

25 25


Online Onsite

EAP counselors are

available onsite in

many locations. Learn

more at EAP.cat.com.

CaterpillarEAP.comLocal contact numbers. 27 languages.

Or through our benefits portal

EAP.cat.comGlobal access numbers can be

found at CaterpillarEAP.com

Accessing EAP

LifeWorks App*

For iOS, Android and

Blackberry

* Uses CWS single sign on. Click

“log in” enter your Caterpillar email.

By Phone

N. America

+1.866.228.0565

+1.309.820.3604

26

https://benefits.cat.com/en/eap.html

https://global.workhealthlife.com/Global/WorkLocation?lang=en-CA

https://benefits.cat.com/en/eap.html

https://www.workhealthlife.com/Caterpillar

Working and Leading Through Challenging Times · Healthy Body Stay Connected Practice Positive...

Documents

Transcript of Working and Leading Through Challenging Times · Healthy Body Stay Connected Practice Positive...