Transcript
Transcript: Anick's Quick Tips for Executives: Managing Stress
[00:00:00 Anick Ouellette appears on screen in a modern Canadian government office.]
Anick Ouellette: Hello. My name is Anick Ouellette and here are some of my tips.
[00:00:05 The title page appears. Soft and inspiring music is playing. Text appears on screen: Quick Tips From Anick: Managing Stress.]
[00:00:12 Text appears at the bottom of the screen: Anick Ouellette. Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer. Canada School of Public Service.
[00:00:18 Text appears on screen: Anick Ouellette – Faculty Member, Canada School of Public Service.]
Anick Ouellette: You are an executive; you have a very busy schedule and are experiencing a lot of stress. You no longer know how to manage this stress. Although we talk a lot about it, stress is not easy to manage, especially when it becomes very severe.
I manage a lot of my stress through physical activity. It enables me to release bad stress, negative energy and dark thoughts; and to manage good stress, I move, which allows me to focus my energy so I can meet the challenges better.
Another trick that works for me is making lists. Yes, my family teases me a lot about it, but it's okay, it works for me.
There are days or even weeks when I feel like I'm completely losing control. I really do not feel good in it and I get very stressed. So, I make a to-do list. A list of things I'd like to think about, of people I'd like to meet, and I fit them all into my schedule, doing my best to make enough time for them; I also make sure to split up the tasks in my schedule appropriately. For example, I place those that require more thought early in the morning and those that are more routine in late afternoon.
I also sometimes get stressed when I'm facing a big decision that could have serious consequences, particularly on my team or those around me. I still make a list of possible options, listing the advantages and disadvantages and the risks and considerations for each of them. It helps me substantially by bringing out the rational and emotional elements. I often talk about it with my partner or my friends in order to get another point of view, an outside point of view. I also consider the worst-case scenario only to realize that it is ultimately the least likely one, which significantly reduces my stress.
Furthermore, before making a decision, I'm the kind of person who needs to reflect, mull over this idea and think while exercising or sleeping on the idea. However, once my decision is made, it's settled and I move on.
[00:02:19 The closing slide appears. Text appears on screen: Quick Tips From Anick: Managing Stress.]
[00:02:26 The Canada School of Public Service logo appears. Text appears on screen: canada.ca/school]
[00:02:33 The Canada wordmark appears.]
