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Stemming the tide of work-related stress: it’s not rocket science, it’s neuroscience

Maria Alexis Chase (Chase Coaching and Facilitation, Plymouth, UK)

Development and Learning in Organizations

ISSN: 1477-7282

Article publication date: 16 November 2018

Issue publication date: 20 August 2019

322

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to illuminate how the findings from neuroscience, translate into simple, elegant, and easily applied tools which offer highly effective strategies to help stem the rising tide of stress in global work-forces.

Design/methodology/approach

Focusing on how current working practices inadvertently activate the brains primal survival mechanism, this paper details the brain’s main organizing principle and the negative effect this has on performance and productivity.

Findings

Exemplifying why, how, and when this automated stress response is triggered, the paper suggests practical, real-world solutions to overcome the primal fight, flight, and freeze mechanism. As this mechanism is responsible for the majority of work-related stress, it discusses the brains capacity to re-wire and change behavioral responses to stress at an individual and organizational level

Originality/value

This study seeks to introduce the concept of aligning work place practices with biological processes. Hoping to open a debate around shifting cultural perceptions of what constitutes the real well-being of work forces, it offers a unique and fresh perspective into the machinery of the mind.

Keywords

Citation

Chase, M.A. (2019), "Stemming the tide of work-related stress: it’s not rocket science, it’s neuroscience", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 16-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/DLO-09-2018-0123

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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