At The Oxygen Plan, we define "stress" as what we experience when the demands placed upon us exceed our ability to cope. We experience symptoms or even illness and disease when our ability to cope is taxed severely or steadily over time. Interestingly, the same holds true for organizations! No surprise really, when you consider that organizations are defined by its people. Also no wonder then that some corporations are starting to think about organizational performance in these terms — beyond looking strictly at productivity measures, edicts to do more with less and wellness initiatives.

Consider Sony Pictures Entertainment and how it gets more out of its people by demanding less ("The Productivity Paradox" by Tony Schwartz, Harvard Business Review, June 2010, pages 65-69). Sony Pictures understands that people don?t work like computers, operating continuously at high speeds. Rather, Sony Pictures understands that human beings perform best only at intervals between periods of rest, or at sub-peak performance more consistently over longer periods of time. The author correctly posits that "employees can increase effectiveness by practicing simple…methods that refuel their energy", such as taking a daily walk and turning off email at certain times to improve concentration. The author concludes that if companies "allow and encourage employees" to do this, "they will be rewarded with a more engaged, productive, and focused workforce (p. 67)."

At The Oxygen Plan, we couldn’t agree more! The HBR article derives its assumptions and conclusions directly from the human performance curve, a widely accepted and understood principle that states as performance demands and/or stress levels increase, human performance will inevitable suffer.

Understanding and appreciating this curve is the responsibility of any organization’s leadership if that organization is to thrive. At The Oxygen Plan, we’ve integrated behavioral science and business to develop tools that help individuals and organizations better manage stress toward improved performance, with employees becoming more engaged and focused. Or as we like to say, we help people and companies "live in the green." Sometimes, less IS more!

Donald E. Williams, PhD, LP joined The Oxygen Plan in 2009 after serving on the professional staff of Mayo Clinic for 18 years and working in the private sector for four years. He is a licensed, board-certified clinical health psychologist (American Board of Professional Psychology) specializing is wellness, stress and stress related illnesses.

This entry was posted by Donald Williams on Friday, June 25th, 2010 and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.