Dynamic Interactive Adaptability

Inner quality management

Details: Written by Brent A Duncan, PhD; Last Updated: 06 April 2020

A primary reason individuals and social systems suffer harm from stress is that people do not just react to stressful events, they tend to turn stress into “an emotional and physiological habit,” according to Cryer and Childre (2003). While the stress mechanism in most animals tends to turn off after danger has passed, the choices, perceptions, and behaviors of humans can get the stress switch stuck in the “on” position.

Recommended Reading: From Chaos to Coherence: Advancing Emotional and Organizational Intelligence Through Inner Quality Management

Post-traumatic growth is the rule

Details: Written by Brent A Duncan, PhD; Last Updated: 02 April 2020

Even extreme stress can have positive side effects. Research and media reports focus heavily on post-traumatic stress disorder, providing the impression that PTSD is the rule; when the reality is that PTSD is the exception. Tedeschi and Calhoun (2004) point out that, "Only a minority of people who are exposed to traumatic events develop long-standing psychiatric disorders" (para. 1).

Recommended Reading: Post-traumatic Growth

The white-collar athlete

Details: Written by Brent A Duncan, PhD; Last Updated: 02 April 2020

What leads one person to the boardroom while keeping another person in the mailroom is the degree to which each can handle the demands of the job. In other words, the white-collar athlete grows and excels through challenges, while the office drone whines and declines. To drive a complex open system through dynamic environments, transformational leaders have to develop a high degree of resilience in the organization and its people; leaders usually cannot avoid or reduce stress, they must effectively manage stress for maximum performance.