Welcome
Foreword: Dr Jermaine Ravalier
Introduction
1. Why bother?
2. What is stress?
3. What causes stress?
4. How can I cope?
5. Using support
6. Avoiding stress
7. Responding to stress
8. Dealing with the aftermath
9. Avoiding burnout
10. Becoming assertive
11. Handling conflict
12. Time and workload management
13. Supporting each other
14. Investing in the future
References
Postscript for managers
Postscript for self-employed people
Postscript for tutors and trainers
Biography
Neil Thompson is an independent writer, producer of online learning resources and a visiting professor at the Open University. His approach is based on the three Ps: where there are People, there will be Problems, but there will also be Potential. He has decades of experience of helping individuals and organisations to address the problems and fulfil the potential.
He is renowned for his ability to express complex ideas clearly and accessibly without oversimplifying them, and to successfully blend theory and practice. In a long career, he has provided training or consultancy services to over 100 organisations, spoken at conferences and seminars in 13 different countries and has won awards for the quality and impact of his work. He has held full or honorary professorships at five UK universities, but for many years now he has focused on reaching a much wider audience to help make a positive difference. He has earned the trust to be a helpful guide and mentor through his writings and online learning and you will no doubt soon see why when you start reading this book. His Academy website, with his Manifesto for Making a Difference, can be found at www.NeilThompson.info.
This new practice manual provides readers with a wealth of information to help us understand stress and develop strategies to manage it. The text is clear, informative and contains numerous practice-based examples to help the reader think about the issues in an applied way. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the manual will be of use to anyone – and of particular value to those working in human service-type roles where stress is ubiquitous.
Dr Steve J HothersallHead of Social Work Education, Edge Hill University.In this manual Neil Thompson defines stress and clarifies its harmful effects, so we are not left in doubt about the urgency to negate them. Neil expertly describes effective strategies to manage this modern-day evil. Reading his step-by-step guidance feels like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and by applying it you can liberate yourself from claws of stress negativity. Thank you, Neil!
Marina KoganExecutive and Business Coach, KoganCoachingThe materials and structure of the manual encourage and support the creation of a framework for reflecting and responding at individual, team and organisational levels to develop and utilise a well-being strategy in professional practice and is an important resource that enables students, educationalists, practitioners and managers to not only think about stress, and its impact, but also to begin to explore active change as part of our response.
Gerry RiceAssociate Dean, Quality, Learning and Teaching, The University of the West of EnglandThis manual is an excellent resource aid for employees and managers, with guidance and practical tips to help people reflect and learn how to manage their own stress and help others in doing so, thereby enabling people to have a sense of control in their lives at work, which can be very empowering.
Dr Rozana Huq, Author of The Psychology of Employee Empowerment
