www.jobs-merseyside.co.uk
czerwiec 2007

by: Michelle Rushton, Daily Post

AS survey after survey reveals we are all succumbing to the modern day epidemic of stress, is there any hope left for the workplace?

Definitely, says Doug Strycharczyk of specialist company AQR, which claims stress isn't the problem; it’s the way different people approach it.

And to back up its claim,ŠAQR has developed the world's first occupational Mental Toughness test, MTQ48, which helps both employers and employees alike with the expert help of psychologist Dr Peter Clough.

Doug, managing director of Cheshire-based AQR, said: "Employees at all levels have to work to meet increasingly demanding goals and targets, handling several pressures at one time, whilst responding to interruptions and sudden changes in expectation.

"The results generated by MTQ48 enables employers to develop strategies and tactics to help organisations and individuals perform under pressure – improving overall well-being in the workplace and, ultimately, creating a better working environment."

The MTQ48 test was recently used by the Merseyside branch of Connexions, the independent advice and guidance service for young people, following the merger of four careers services into one organisation.

Kieran Gordon, chief executive of Connexions, said: "Merging four organisations and creating a new business with a changed rationale, new targets and systems of performance management increased levels of organisational and individual stress. By engaging the services of AQR we were able to identify the 'good stressors' and 'bad stressors' at both levels.

"Our aim was to maximise the impact of the 'good stressors' to maximise our creative edge and reduce the 'bad stressors' which hampered progress and made the job of individuals more difficult and less rewarding.”

He added: “The Mental Toughness Development programme gave us a greater insight into organisational and individual stress levels and tolerances. It equipped us with the techniques to manage stress, whilst keeping our edge as forward-thinkers and risk-takers.

"As a team we feel more 'in control' of our working (and in some cases personal) lives. We now value the need to build in creative thinking time as part of active engagement with customers, rather than a luxury to be added on when time allows."

The test can also be used on prospective employees at the interview stage, and even provides the client with suitable questions to test the candidate’s suitability for a role.

After completing the test, candidates get two reports detailing their results and including pointers for development. The client or manager also gets two reports revealing the mental toughness of the candidates and ways to develop their skills further.

Psychologist Dr Peter Clough, who helped develop the test, added: "Surveys and research reveal that more and more people feel they are stressed.

“However, this may reflect that people now are generally less able to deal with stressors than in the past.

“AQR has developed MTQ48 to measure people's reactions when faced with different stressors, including workplace pressures, multi-tasking, physical and mental fatigue and social pressures.

“The fact that this measure is so valid and meaningful in the workplace means MTQ48 enables employers to select the right people or to develop those who are struggling with the demands placed upon them."

For more information and the opportunity to see sample reports visit www.aqr.co.uk