The 10 Best Tools for Preventing Stress at Work
On this page, you can access or download the 10 stress prevention tools and resources I spoke about at a recent conference called Stress, Stigma and Solutions which was held at Prospect House (the London HQ of Prospect), on 12th March 2013.
I'd like to extend my thanks to Prospect for hosting the event, and especially to Sarah Page and Sandie Maile for all their hard work in getting the event organised. The event was attended by both union and employer reps (which makes for a very stimulating event!)
You'll find all 10 stress management tools and resources I discussed below. Some tools (such as the tools I personally have developed) you can download directly from this page; others I have provided links for. Please note: You'll need to scroll down this page to access all the tools and resources.
Here we go, my list of the 10 Best Tools for Preventing Stress at work...
I'd like to extend my thanks to Prospect for hosting the event, and especially to Sarah Page and Sandie Maile for all their hard work in getting the event organised. The event was attended by both union and employer reps (which makes for a very stimulating event!)
You'll find all 10 stress management tools and resources I discussed below. Some tools (such as the tools I personally have developed) you can download directly from this page; others I have provided links for. Please note: You'll need to scroll down this page to access all the tools and resources.
Here we go, my list of the 10 Best Tools for Preventing Stress at work...
1. Best Practice Checklist Tool for Line Managers
This simple stress management checklist tool for managers, developed by Business Psychologist, Alan Bradshaw, can be used by managers and those who support them. It will also be of benefit to Trade Union Health & Safety Reps. It's designed to help identify current gaps in managers' stress management awareness, skills and behaviours. Development Interventions such as management development and coaching can help plug these gaps, thereby minimising risk and moving the organisation towards best practice in managing stress at work.
The checklist has been divided into four key areas:
This simple stress management checklist tool for managers, developed by Business Psychologist, Alan Bradshaw, can be used by managers and those who support them. It will also be of benefit to Trade Union Health & Safety Reps. It's designed to help identify current gaps in managers' stress management awareness, skills and behaviours. Development Interventions such as management development and coaching can help plug these gaps, thereby minimising risk and moving the organisation towards best practice in managing stress at work.
The checklist has been divided into four key areas:
- Awareness – questions highlighting the level of management awareness about work-related stress and the associated risks
- Preventing stress – questions related to management actions, skills and behaviours known to help prevent stress at work
- Monitoring stress – questions related to actions that enable early identification of stress problems at work
- Responding to stress problems – questions related to how managers respond once stress problems have been identified
| managers_stress_management_checklist_tool.pdf |
2. Pressurised Situation Profiling Tool
This new tool developed by Business Psychologist, Alan Bradshaw, is designed to help people identify, prioritise and deal with pressurised situations at work that are having a negative impact on them. It can also be used or by managers, coaches and practitioners to facilitate discussion and help generate solutions. It will also be of benefit to Trade Union Health & Safety Reps. The tool includes some solution generation options. I cover the use and different applications of this tool in a train-the-trainer course called Building Resilience Through Positive Psychology - please see our events page for details of forthcoming courses. I also use the tool in consultancy and training when working with organisations - if that is of interest, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know. The tool can be downloaded below...
This new tool developed by Business Psychologist, Alan Bradshaw, is designed to help people identify, prioritise and deal with pressurised situations at work that are having a negative impact on them. It can also be used or by managers, coaches and practitioners to facilitate discussion and help generate solutions. It will also be of benefit to Trade Union Health & Safety Reps. The tool includes some solution generation options. I cover the use and different applications of this tool in a train-the-trainer course called Building Resilience Through Positive Psychology - please see our events page for details of forthcoming courses. I also use the tool in consultancy and training when working with organisations - if that is of interest, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know. The tool can be downloaded below...
| pressurised_situation_profiling_tool.pdf |
3. Quality of Working Life (QoWL) Tools
These are psychometric/survey tools developed by psychologists at the University of Portsmouth for measuring and benchmarking Quality of Working Life. The main tool is called the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale. The tools are now used all over the world by researchers and have been translated into multiple languages. You can find out more about these powerful tools and find links to where you can access them on our QoWL Tools page. These are excellent free tools, which include questionnaires, scoring keys and guidance. The tools can also be used as part of a full QoWL survey service. If that is of interest to you/your organisation, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know.
These are psychometric/survey tools developed by psychologists at the University of Portsmouth for measuring and benchmarking Quality of Working Life. The main tool is called the Work-Related Quality of Life Scale. The tools are now used all over the world by researchers and have been translated into multiple languages. You can find out more about these powerful tools and find links to where you can access them on our QoWL Tools page. These are excellent free tools, which include questionnaires, scoring keys and guidance. The tools can also be used as part of a full QoWL survey service. If that is of interest to you/your organisation, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know.
4. Stress Management Competency Indicator Tools
These tools were developed following 4 years of research by Occupational Psychologists. The research was funded by HSE, CIPD and Investors in People. The tools are designed to provide managers with feedback on the skills and behaviours that prevent and reduce stress (and can cause stress). You can download PDF and excel versions of this tool and an analysis tool for 360 feedback to line managers on our stress management competency tools and resources page (scroll down the page to access all the tools). You can also access the research papers and information booklets for HR and line managers on that page. You can find general information about this approach on our stress management competencies FAQ page.
A train-the-trainer course is available called Preventing Stress: Promoting Positive Manager Behaviour for those who wish to deliver training interventions related to the use of these tools. Details can be found on our events page. Together with Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Emma Donaldson-Feilder (who led the research), I have also set up some dedicated services such as 360 feedback and executive coaching (aimed at senior managers) - if these external consultancy services are of interest, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know.
These tools were developed following 4 years of research by Occupational Psychologists. The research was funded by HSE, CIPD and Investors in People. The tools are designed to provide managers with feedback on the skills and behaviours that prevent and reduce stress (and can cause stress). You can download PDF and excel versions of this tool and an analysis tool for 360 feedback to line managers on our stress management competency tools and resources page (scroll down the page to access all the tools). You can also access the research papers and information booklets for HR and line managers on that page. You can find general information about this approach on our stress management competencies FAQ page.
A train-the-trainer course is available called Preventing Stress: Promoting Positive Manager Behaviour for those who wish to deliver training interventions related to the use of these tools. Details can be found on our events page. Together with Chartered Occupational Psychologist, Emma Donaldson-Feilder (who led the research), I have also set up some dedicated services such as 360 feedback and executive coaching (aimed at senior managers) - if these external consultancy services are of interest, please use the feedback form at the bottom of this page to let me know.
5. Affinity Health at Work Research Outputs
This set of tools, frameworks and resources are all research outputs from the Affinity Health at Work Research Consortium. This psychologist-led Consortium includes within its membership HSE, CIPD and Acas and has been highly active in the workplace wellbeing research field. The resources are excellent and include recent research reports on leadership and sustainable employee engagement. If you/your organisation is interested in joining the Consortium this page has more information.
This set of tools, frameworks and resources are all research outputs from the Affinity Health at Work Research Consortium. This psychologist-led Consortium includes within its membership HSE, CIPD and Acas and has been highly active in the workplace wellbeing research field. The resources are excellent and include recent research reports on leadership and sustainable employee engagement. If you/your organisation is interested in joining the Consortium this page has more information.
6. HSE Stress Management Standards Tools and Templates
This page on the HSE website has links to many tools, resources and templates, including those related to the Management Standards. You can also download The Management Standards' tools directly from our Stress Tools page (you need to scroll down this page to access the tools).
This page on the HSE website has links to many tools, resources and templates, including those related to the Management Standards. You can also download The Management Standards' tools directly from our Stress Tools page (you need to scroll down this page to access the tools).
7. Work Positive Tools
Work Positive is a tool that was developed in Scotland. It's similar to the Management Standards Indicator Tool but has a range of additional questions related to workplace wellbeing. You can also download the Work Positive tools directly from our Stress Tools page (you need to scroll down this page to access the tools).
Work Positive is a tool that was developed in Scotland. It's similar to the Management Standards Indicator Tool but has a range of additional questions related to workplace wellbeing. You can also download the Work Positive tools directly from our Stress Tools page (you need to scroll down this page to access the tools).
8. NICE Promotion of Mental Wellbeing at Work Tools
This range of tools, guidance and resources developed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) relate to promoting mental wellbeing at work. These tools and resources are particularly useful if you need to build a business case for taking action to prevent stress or promote wellbeing in your organisation.
This range of tools, guidance and resources developed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) relate to promoting mental wellbeing at work. These tools and resources are particularly useful if you need to build a business case for taking action to prevent stress or promote wellbeing in your organisation.
9. Positive Psychology Tools
This Authentic Happiness website developed by the University of Pennsylvania in America, has a whole range of Positive Psychology tools developed by Professor Martin Seligman and others. It is free to access and once you sign up you can access the tools. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Positive Psychology (the science of what makes us happy and well). What I like about these approaches and tools is that they are evidence based. If you're interested in using Positive Psychology approaches to boost resilience (generally and at work), you might be interested in a train-the-trainer course called Building Resilience Through Positive Psychology - please see our events page for details of forthcoming courses.
This Authentic Happiness website developed by the University of Pennsylvania in America, has a whole range of Positive Psychology tools developed by Professor Martin Seligman and others. It is free to access and once you sign up you can access the tools. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Positive Psychology (the science of what makes us happy and well). What I like about these approaches and tools is that they are evidence based. If you're interested in using Positive Psychology approaches to boost resilience (generally and at work), you might be interested in a train-the-trainer course called Building Resilience Through Positive Psychology - please see our events page for details of forthcoming courses.
10. Emotion Regulation in Others and Self (EROS) Research
This EROS research website was developed as part of a multi-university research project into emotion regulation. It has been written for a general (non-academic audience) and provides access to a wide range of useful information resources on the topic. The psychologist involved also wrote a great book with an even better title called: "Should I strap a battery to my head." This book and others on similar topics can be found in our stress management book store (see below).
This EROS research website was developed as part of a multi-university research project into emotion regulation. It has been written for a general (non-academic audience) and provides access to a wide range of useful information resources on the topic. The psychologist involved also wrote a great book with an even better title called: "Should I strap a battery to my head." This book and others on similar topics can be found in our stress management book store (see below).
Recommended Stress Management Books
You can find books on stress and related topics in my stress management book store. I've personally read and reviewed many of the books in the store, and they include some of my favourite authors, such as Martin Seligman and Edward (Ned) Hallowell. You'll see categories on the right hand side of the page, so check that out if you're looking for books on a specific theme. This is an amazon store so you can also use the search function to search all of amazon's stock.
You can find books on stress and related topics in my stress management book store. I've personally read and reviewed many of the books in the store, and they include some of my favourite authors, such as Martin Seligman and Edward (Ned) Hallowell. You'll see categories on the right hand side of the page, so check that out if you're looking for books on a specific theme. This is an amazon store so you can also use the search function to search all of amazon's stock.