Tuesday Tips: Harnessing Hardiness: Turning Stress into Success with Dr. Steven Stein

Dr. Steven Stein, PH.D., a world-renowned clinical psychologist, international best-selling author, and leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, instead. 
 
Dr. Stein has released, Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals (2020) and Emotional Intelligence for Dummies, 2nd edition (2023) to help individuals improve their emotional understanding, enhance their work performance, and leverage stress for personal growth and life satisfaction.

Dr. Stein also consults with numerous reality TV shows, including Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, Bachelor Canada, Bachelor in Paradise, Blown Away, and many others, providing psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments. You can find his press kit here.

Dr. Stein can discuss:

Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You: 

How Hardiness can make working environments more adaptive 

Steps leaders can take to build up their own Hardiness attitudes and behaviors and those of their teams 

How the three Cs of Hardiness promotes a culture of resiliency that improves productivity, health, and the bottom line.

Why individuals who possess high levels of emotional intelligence are also more likely to possess high levels of Hardiness. 

Emotional Intelligence for Dummies, 2nd edition: 

Discuss what emotional intelligence is in greater detail and how to improve it

How emotional intelligence can contribute to the enhancement of work performances 

Explore how leaders can use emotional intelligence within their teams

Quick recap
Managing Workplace Stress With Hardiness
Steven and Michael discussed the increasing stress levels in the workplace and the factors contributing to this trend. They identified the importance of a mindset called 'hardiness' which enables individuals to better manage stressful situations. This mindset is characterized by a focus on challenges, control, and commitment. Michael emphasized the need to maintain perspective, particularly in the face of change or difficult circumstances at work. Steven furthered this by suggesting that individuals should focus on their long-term goals and work towards them, using imagery to help maintain a positive outlook.
Achieving State of Flow in Work
Michael used the analogy of athletes, such as basketball players and Usain Bolt, to describe the state of flow one can experience in their work when fully engaged and creative. He emphasized the importance of visualization in achieving this state. Steven expanded on this concept, drawing from his book Hardiness, and suggested that these techniques used by elite athletes could be applied in the workplace to improve performance in tasks like presentations and sales calls. He indicated that by practicing visualization and the right processes, one could experience a similar state of flow in their work as athletes do on the playing field.
Finding Joy in Work: Michael's Game-Changing Approach
Michael shared his experience of how he found joy and satisfaction in his work by turning it into a game. He shared how he enjoyed setting up computer labs for his former job in a school, finding it invigorating and efficient. Steven agreed with Michael's approach, highlighting the importance of finding work that one enjoys. Michael further elaborated on his experience in healthcare clinics, where he enabled staff to work on tasks that suited them best, resulting in positive outcomes and a happy work environment.
Emotional Intelligence and Personal Success
Michael and Steven discussed the importance of emotional intelligence in personal and professional success. Steven highlighted the three key aspects of emotional intelligence: understanding one's own emotions, managing emotions effectively, and using emotions to achieve goals. Michael agreed with Steven and added that self-awareness is crucial to emotional intelligence, and shared his personal experiences on how preparing for tasks and maintaining a positive emotional state can improve performance. Steven further emphasized the significance of self-awareness in identifying and addressing internal issues that might hinder success.
Embracing Flexibility in Unpredictable Situations
Michael emphasized the importance of preparedness and flexibility in managing unexpected situations, such as noisy construction work from a floor above. He stressed that being proactive and focusing on things within one's control can significantly reduce stress and anxiety. Steven concurred, highlighting the need to move beyond initial triggers and find ways to overcome obstacles. Both agreed that adapting to changes and adjusting one's approach can lead to successful outcomes despite unpredictable circumstances.
Emotional Intelligence and Counteracting Polarization
Steven and Michael discussed the importance and growing relevance of emotional intelligence in our lives, particularly in a world increasingly dominated by technology and automation. Steven noted the evolution of the concept from being an obscure term to a widely recognized and discussed one. Michael underscored the value of seeking to understand others' perspectives, promoting empathy and non-judgmental dialogue to de-escalate conflicts and reduce polarization. They agreed on the need to counteract the negative effects of social media and other screen-based platforms.