Chapter 2: Developing Self-Awareness

Chapter 2: Developing self-awareness

Dateline: 26 December 2007

“Stress is the buzzword of the twenty-first century,” Dr Gabriela Corá recently proclaimed on Fox News. Dr Corá, a medical doctor, board-certified psychiatrist, corporate consultant, executive coach, expert speaker, President of The Executive Health & Wealth Institute, Inc., and Managing Partner of The Florida Neuroscience Center, has just released a book addressing means of maximising performance and productivity in the workplace. In it, she highlights the significance of an employee’s health and wellbeing.

Dr Corá has observed that employees who are burnt-out, energy depleted, or consistently stressed may find they are unable to enjoy their success. As a result, she advocates a combined strategy of performance management that balances efforts to maximise both wealth and health because a failure in one area will often lead to a failure in the other.

Dr Corá recommends the use of management coaches in organisations to assist in raising performance and productivity levels. She notes how effective they are in addressing employees who are performing and producing at a good baseline level, but want to continue to improve, employees who are disorganised and require better prioritisation skills, and employees requiring external motivation and guidance to achieve their goals. However, Dr Corá cautions that not all employees will necessarily respond to coaches as effectively as others. “People who are experiencing a series of medical issues triggered by stress may not benefit from coaching as much as people who are healthy and want to improve their performance at work.”

Instead, Dr. Corá argues that employees already burdened by extreme stress, and stress related medical issues, would more greatly benefit from receiving expert assistance in relation to means of implementing healthy lifestyle strategies and work life balance. This foundation then enables the employee to focus on improvements in business productivity by way of targeted coaching in this area, in view of the broader spectrum of balance and health they are maintaining in their life.

As a result, Dr Corá suggests a combined approach to employee productivity and performance:

The provision of expert medical advice and services for those who are experiencing stress related problems that need prompt resolution, life coaching to facilitate work/life balance, and business coaching to improve performance in the workplace.

SOURCE
‘Corporate Burnout: Do You Need a Coach or a Doctor?’, Mass Media Distribution Newswire, 26 December 2007

Question

This article illustrates the importance of employing a range of strategies to improve employee performance and productivity. Specifically, medical attention to assist employees already suffering from acute stress and targeted coaching to improve those who are functioning well, but have room for improvement. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of this multifaceted approach. Review any other options you believe may be effective. Give reasons for your views.