This session is sponsored by the Federal Acquisition Institute

This session is sponsored by the Federal Acquisition Institute The primary organization providing knowledge and support to the federal civilian acquisition workforce. For more information about FAI, please visit our website at www.fai.gov

Life’s A MOD:Managing, Organizing, and Delegating To Maximize Your Effectiveness and Minimize Your Stress GSA Training Conference and Expo 2010 M. Sylvia Ball Chief Learning Officer Treasury Acquisition Institute M.Sylvia.Ball@irs.gov

Life’s A MOD “We can benefit from change. Anyone who has ever really lived knows that there is no life without growth. When we stop growing, we stop living and start existing. But there is no growth without challenge, and there is no challenge without change. Life is a series of changes that create challenges and if we are going to make it, we have to grow. (Warren Wiersbe)

What Is This Seminar About? • IDENTIFYING STRESS, BURNOUT AND DISTRESS • IDENTIFY THE SIGNS STRESS AND BURNOUT AND DISTRESS • UNDERSTANDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF PERCEPTION • LEARNING NEW STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING YOURSELF, STRESS AND BURNOUT

Which One Of These Are Stress? • Soda machine is out of your favorite drink • You are going to closing on your new dream home. • You go to a family reunion, have a great time and stay • until 2:30 am • You are not satisfied with your job • Your allergies are bothering you • Taking a fun roller coaster ride • You are concerned about downsizing/outsourcing • There is a new traffic pattern for getting to work. • Your graduation day from college

Change & Need for Resilience Change is: Situational Fairly Quick External Transition is: Process Gradual Internal (personal)

Life’s A MOD Change happens (Life’s a Mod) How Are You Handling the Change? Are you Resisting or Resilient?

Life’s A MOD Is it Resistance? • Focus on Process • Focus on Tradition • Need Control • Procedures oriented • They way things should be Is It Resilience? • Focus on End Result • Focus on Values • Acceptance • Allow the shift to happen • The way things could be

Life’s A MOD Is it SUCCESS? • Healthy Self-Esteem • Clear Mission • Clear Purpose • Clear Goals • Developing Self • Enthusiastically embrace life and change Is It STRESS? • Aches & Pains • Breathing Short • Eating Pace (fast) • Living Pace (no fun) • No sleep OR too much • Work or Family Problems • Resistance to Change

Distress – resulting from prolonged stress • Anxiety • Inability to cope • Suffering (mental) • Physical Pain • Fear • Worry

What Is Stress? • Stress has no QUALITY • Stress is our REACTION to the demands placed upon us or to changes in our lives • By our REACTION we make stress either positive or negative (distress)

Stress Responses • ALARM PHASE (Threat Identified) • RESISTANCE PHASE (Coping) • EXHAUSTIAN PHASE (Physical AND Psychological Responses)

Stress Responses • Physical Reactions • Increased Adrenaline • More energy • Higher Blood Pressure • Faster Heart Rate • Fight or Flight* • Mental Signs • Unable to concentrate • Forgetfulness • Confusion • Indecisiveness • Psychological Reactions • Fear of losing control • Feeling that life is hopeless • Helplessness • Anxiousness • Anger or Depression • Behavior Signs • Fidgeting • Yelling, Swearing, Crying • Hitting or Throwing Things • Nail Biting

CHANGE Is Inevitable GROWTH Is Optional Managing Your Way Through Change • Shock-Unbelief (ending) • Anger • Depression • Acceptance (new beginning)

Realities About Stress “While we may not be able to control All that happens to us, we can control What happens inside us.” - Benjamin Franklin

Difference Between Stress and Burnout • Stress • Over engagement • Over reactive • Urgency/Hyperactivity • Loss of Energy • Resulting in Anxiety Disorder • Physical Manifestation • Premature Death • Burnout • Disengaged • Emotions Blunted • Helplessness • Loss of Motivation • Depression • Emotional • Emotional Death

Realities About Stress • Stress Is My Reaction or Response • My Reaction or Response is based on my • Perception or Beliefs • I Choose My Reactions or Responses • I Cannot Control the event • I Can Control my Response

So What Can I Do About The Stress? It’s All About Perspective, Perspective Perspective

So What Can I Do About This Stress? “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties”.

Life’s A MOD STRESS SITUATION – Organizational Change You are appointed Team Lead over a newly formed team. Rumor has it that the majority of the members are new to the field of acquisitions.

Life’s A MOD YOUR PERSPECTIVE: These people know nothing about how to do acquisitions, will be very needy; ask a ton of irrelevant questions and you are already overworked. (this is going to be a nightmare; I will never get my work done now!)

Life’s A MOD What Are The Possible Consequences To this Perception?

Life’s A MOD • Negative Consequences – • Headaches • Fight with self and others • Gossip (Confessing The Sins Of The Boss) • New team has No Chance • Low Morale • Poor Relationship With team • All These Equal DISTRESS!!!!!!!!!!

Life’s A MOD A Different Perspective: • The team was formed for a good reason that may not be known to me right now. • The assignment provides an opportunity to grow and develop others skills. • I can block time each day to coach and respond to questions • I can delegate, agree on a deadline and set specific times for review and lessons learned • I can ask for help.

Life’s A MOD Consequences Of This Perspective: • Hopefulness • Excitement • Feeling Creative • Anticipation • GOOD STRESS!!!!! (The Kind That Motivates You)

Life’s A MOD Burnout Situation “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” Your workplace is full of bullying, clueless, ungrateful customers. You supervisor often frowns at you and your colleagues don’t seem to like you. Every day is a bad day and nothing you do appears to make a difference. You are miserable!

Life’s A MOD What Are Some Possible Causes For This Situation?

Life’s A MOD Some Possible Reasons For This Situation • Conflicting Job Demands • Excessive Workload • Unexpected Change in the workplace • Inflexibility about your ideas • You Hate Your Job!

Life’s A MOD Some Possible Solutions For This Situation • Create your own job opportunities • Make sure you have enough uninterrupted time • to think and work. • Change your focus • Invite input and critique from “critical friends” • If you can’t have the job you love (yet)…love the • one you’ve got!

Is CHANGE The Driver…What Am I Holding On To? • How much control do I have? • How will it affect me personally? • Is it going to cost me anything? • What can I do to make adjustments? • What do I need to let go of? • Is my fear of change stressing me or holding me • back?

Life’s A MOD Some General Solutions For Living • Set Realistic Goals (yours and others) • Set Appropriate Boundaries • Live By Your Values • Seek Challenging Assignments • Stop the “Stinking Thinking” and think Positive.

Life’s A MOD Some More Thoughts • Analyze the situation and make changes to • improve things (change your perspective) • Become Involved In Non-Work Activities • Leave Room For Error • Change Your Self-Talk

Life’s A MOD Some Times We Need Help Solutions For Managing Stress and Preventing Burnout • Employee Assistance Programs • Local Resources • Spiritual Communities • http://www.teachhealth.com • http://www.stressfree.com

Life’s A MOD And Finally: • Take Care Of You (Exercise, Eat Right, Engage) • Laugh Out Loud • Get Proper Rest & Physical Exercise • Spend Quality Time With Family & Friends • Live By A Mission Statement & Values • Take One Day At A Time

Life’s A MOD “For The Phoenix To Rise from The Ashes One Must Know The Pain To Transform The Fire To Burn Desire”

Life’s A MOD

This session is sponsored by the Federal Acquisition Institute