Stress Solutions Using Keyssential Insights

Will we look back at 2009 as one of the most stressful years in our lifetime? So far this year, I’ve witnessed more situations involving symptoms that reflect people are under immense stress. I’ve termed these symptoms The Grip, describing an overuse of peoples’ strengths. When individuals or groups apply their strengths repeatedly to high impact situations our strengths over time do become inflexible and cannot function with the same capacity, flexibility and impact. This can lead to a one-dimensionality of our strengths, in turn producing more stress or an environment that accelerates and heightens ineffective pressures.

Leaders in business environments are using logic-based Keyssential Facet strengths at this time to the point of overuse. These include the Analyzing and Reasoning Facets, to create solutions, make decisions, and respond to the change that is required. An overuse of Analyzing and Reasoning strengths can produce more unnecessary stress as well as a lack of innovation and well-rounded decision-making. Read on to learn how to use Keyssential Facet strengths to alleviate or remove The Grip experience:

Analyzers often need Empathizers
This means letting your highly active mind rest and take a recess from the process of continuously assessing circumstances or dilemmas. Restore a creative state with relaxation. Apply Empathy to your current situation. Start by asking yourself what activity would be supportive of you at this time. You may want to invite someone you trust, who possesses the Empathizer strengths, to talk with you. Perhaps you can ask this Empathizer to help you empathize with others, specifically with people within your organization. Empathy does not require you to be emotional, it simply means putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and applying the insight gained from this experience.

Reasoners often need Sympathizers
This means taking a break from talking or telling others about your opinions, current recommendations or vision. Allow your nature to shift gears and channel your advocacy abilities into something new—creating quiet for yourself. If this is difficult write down your thoughts and aspirations. Find a trusted Sympathizer to share the quiet and after some time ask this person if they would be wiling to read your writings and interview you, asking questions about your current circumstances. Ask them to help you find your values related to these situations and discuss what this means. Let your Sympathizer partner play back what they have heard. This will help you greatly. If you do not have access to a Sympathizer read your writings out loud to yourself, afterwards ask yourself how your values impact your view points and opinions.

If you are interested in learning more about Promoting Brilliance’s Keyssential™ Communication Programs featuring individual coaching and workshop formats contact Beth Wellesley at (612) 824-0454 or beth@promotingbrilliance.com