Does Corporate Stress Management Trainings Work?

This was a recent question asked to me by a senior management in-charge of a large engineering company in my very first interaction with them. They also went on to the next level to ask me – Are you free from stress in your life sir?

Since these questions have repeatedly popped up from several senior management executives, I thought that it’s time to pen down my thoughts on this.

Read this :

• Approx 70 percent of corporate employees say they go through significant amount of stress when at work, and approx 40 percent say they typically feel tense or anxious during the working time.
• Around 50 percent of working employees have at some point of time considered or made a decision of quitting their jobs or a promotion coz of workplace stress.
• Close to 45 percent of adults fail to recognize or accept manifestations or signals of stress in their life.

While these are mere figures of statistics and challengeable and also the fact that data can be inferred or interpreted erroneously, my focus is on the third point. A large portion of the society fails to accept that there are several situations in life when they unconsciously trigger stress hormones into their biological self.

Denial is the definite path to Ignorance

Experiencing moments of anger or developing that feeling of short temperedness.
Dealing with others in an unacceptable curt manner. Working but not productively. Avoiding conversations and sulking into one’s own shell. Physical manifestations like irregular bowel, sweating palms, itchy skin, feeling fatigued, chest pains, hot air around the ears and Emotional signals like anxiety, worthlessness, lowered self esteem, compulsive behaviours and chronic intoxications are all in one way or the other indications or symptoms of human stress.

Often,  excessive pressure at workplace makes the employee mentally worn out if not physically. In short we all experience stress in some form or the other in mild or serious levels both at the physical and at the mental levels.

Maharishi Patanjali in his yogasutras focuses more on the mind than the body. The mind has immense effect on the body. Relief from Stress or benefit from any yogic practice can happen only and only if, the mind is in a mode of acceptance.

The question – Do these practices work? If this is asked from a negative mind, the results will almost be negative. Yes! They won’t work. To benefit from any practice that has the potential to reduce stress, first a deep innocence is needed, a diving into the act without perceptions of the future is needed.

And yes, lastly remember stress can never be eliminated, it can be moderated, controlled or its levels can be reduced. All in all stress management trainings definitely work at varied levels in different individuals. The effect at times may me marginal and temporary as well, however consistent and diligent practices have delivered tangible and measurable reduction of stress levels in individuals across the globe. So the next time you get an opportunity to experience a stress management training, my message is clear – Do it, Dive into it through a positive mindset and a childlike innocence. It will definitely help.