How to cope when the going gets tough
Scott Robinson
Published: 23 Jun 2003 13:11 BST
We all go through stretches when stress rises and clobbers us for days, even weeks on end. But in the world of project development, there are times when things can go terribly wrong in a heartbeat, and the stress hits us like a ton of bricks.
You've been there: A parallel test reveals a hidden flaw that will cost hundreds of person-hours to fix. Or a critical component from a third-party vendor doesn't perform as advertised. Or a maintenance-contract loophole puts a sudden burden on your team's resources. Or a key employee walks out and isn't coming back. Or senior management takes back a hundred thousand dollars you desperately need to finish the project. Any one of these can send your blood pressure through the roof. To get through such stressful situations, here are some creative coping suggestions.
Getting through the moment
Long-term stress is often a medical issue. See your doctor, change your diet, take up knitting, whatever. These will get you through a lengthy period of adversity with your health and mental focus preserved.
But the sudden impact of stress brought on by an unforeseen crisis is a different matter, and it can have terrible effects. First, such moments are no better for your health than the long-term crisis. Second, your mental focus can go out the window when you need it most. Third, it's no good for your team when a bad turn hits your project. They're already reeling from the impact of bad news, and they don't need to see stress in your face or hear it in your voice, even if you're pretty good at holding yourself together under pressure.
When such moments of crisis hit, you have to resolve to give yourself a bit of time to respond. You already know that you can't react impulsively when things go wrong, but you can minimize the negative physical effects and, better still, give yourself a real boost to see you through the day as you handle the crisis.
The walking meeting
I once had a co-worker named Steve, back in the mainframe epoch. We were able to send messages terminal-to-terminal, and I could count on one such message in the morning and one in the afternoon. Steve didn't take coffee breaks; instead, he enjoyed a brisk 10-minute walk -- what he called a "constitutional." I'd get the message "Constitutional!" on my terminal, his invitation to join him if I could, and I often did.
These walks were always high points in the day. We would bump into people as we marched through the corridors of our company with purpose, sometimes enjoying a laugh, but more often than not bouncing ideas off each other concerning whatever we were working on. Our break time became productive, our contact with others in the company was enhanced, and we always felt great, both morning and afternoon.
In later years, I've applied this practice in times of sudden stress. I've grabbed a lieutenant or a team member and had a "walking meeting," discussing something -- anything -- while taking a 15-minute stroll towards any justifiable destination. It's invigorating, it takes my mind off the immediate crisis long enough for my body to burn up some anxiety, and by the time I'm ready to return to the problem, I feel much better.
Why not give this a try? When trouble strikes, and you feel stressed out, find someone you need to speak with anyway (on some topic unrelated to your immediate crisis) and speak with them on your way to wherever there is to go (if all else fails, think of some item you need from the most remote supply room in the company). Or, if no one is available, just walk by yourself. The point is, get up and move, and move quite a bit. You'll be much better for it.
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