Summary

Focus on mental health

lying PSST! Want to know the real reason some executives are stressed

so much of the time? It's net their work overload, difficuit staff or tough trading times. Those are symptoms cf the dynamic tension in the cut and thrust of the business world.

The real cuiprit is all those white lies, says Marika Sboros.

I t's all the little "white lies" - and the big ones - bosses teli staff, colleagues, clients, customers, competitors. It's all the pretending, prevaricating and disseminating they do in a working day. It's the chronic "low congruence" they suffer from that affects their health in body and mind.

The world of business is unfortunately littered with exam- ples of people who exhibit low congruence. The late Brett Kebble is just one example. Enron executives are iiving examples. Premature death and public humiliation are not always the end results, but

iow congruence is common in businesses across the globe, and it always leads to high levels of stress, says change architect and strategist Olive Simpkins, author of The Concise Communicator and Change Your Thinking Change Your Life.

He will be facilitating discussion and debate at a leadership con- ference for the institute of Directors in the UK in London next month. Simpkins says low congruence happens when our thoughts, feel- ings and behaviours don't "hold hands".

The concept was created by Dr Cari Rogers, the "father" of per- son-centred psychotherapy, and regarded as the most influential American psychologist of the 20th century. He wanted a word to convey the need for emotions and states of being on the inside to be consistent and visible on the outside, when appropriate. He believed this was essential for physical and mental health.

In computer tenninology the conoept would be WYSIWYG — what you see is what you get, says Simpkins. Unfortunately, what you see is seldom what you get in many areas of business. One problem is the masks many people wear to cover insecurities and inadequacies, to cope, grow and do business, he says. Masking is a symptom of low congruenoe. The greater the disparity between the role-mask and the "real" you, the greater will be the demand on your mental and physical energy. Masking drains energy, and cre- ates the conditions for ill health to set in.

In case you are wondering, congruence can't be faked. Simpkins tells the tale of a female executive he has worked with - the "arche- typal organisational politician" who spends each day "setting up" individuals against each other. She biatantly steals ideas and lies with such a straight face, only the most perceptive wouid be aware of it. Ethics are not part of her thinking, lexicon or her behaviour.

Yet when Simpkins ran a corporate values and culture manage- ment workshop for top management of the organisation, the wom- an's verbai utterances "threatened to elevate her to sainthood". "I was constantly amazed at her ability to say one thing and live the exact opposite," he says.

Not all executives exhibit the same degree of low congruence as the aforementioned one. Others operate at lower levels. But the re- ality is low congruence is typical of the corporate world, and what- ever the degree, the effect is the same - high stress levels. Some people distinguish between positive and negative stress.

Psychologists speak of "eustress" and "dystress", Simpkins draws a distinction between stress and tension. Tension is the "more productive sibling" of stress, he says. It is necessary and essential for everyday interaction. It creates a positive, energised state and does not drain health.

The effects of stress on physical and mental health are well doc- umented. By way of example, Simpkins cites the Buddhist anal- ogy of a musical instrument with a relaxed string draped over the bridge. You can't produce a note on it at all. If the string is tuned

56 Nursing Update March 2007

Focus on mental healtii

too tightly, you will produce distorted notes. Only when the string is appropriately taut or tense can you produce the perfect note. It's the same with people. "Stress is tension out of control and un- manageable.

It affects behaviour and health negatively," Simpkins says. "Ten- sion allows us to get things done." One souroe of business stress for people is the dilemma of working in a corporate value system that is antagonistic to their own. Simpkins tells them they have two choices: "Join the game and, in the Faustian tradition, sell your soul to the devil or get out of the organisation." One is a path to declin- ing health. The other supports physical and mental health.

There may be extreme situations where it is acceptable, even de- sirable, for thoughts, feelings and behaviour not to be in alignment, says Simpkins. One example is a delicate hostage negotiation. In

general, though, well-being in body and mind and business lies in congruence.

So, how do we achieve congruence in our working lives? It's not difficult, says Simpkins. It begins with "making yourself real by telling the :ruth". It means living life and conducting business ac- cording to a script of "non-negotiable integrity, sincerity and trust". It means accepting there are no half truths, white lies, "termino- logical inexactitudes", or other euphemisms. It doesn't mean no diplomacy, sensitivity, or gentleness in revealing unpleasant infor- mation. "Honesty and integrity are prerequisites if you are seriously concerned with your health, your business's health and the health of those around you," Simpkins says. NU Source: Marika Sboros, Business Day Health News. 14 June 2006

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clvvifery SYMPOSIUM'" SOUTHERN AFRICA

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IATTUC INSTTTUTE

Brief History- of the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium

Ihc idea olthc Symposium was conceived in 1946 at the Sister Lilian'" Centre, a health education and pregnancy, birth and parenting advice centre siarted by welt-known South African midwife and health educator, Sister Lilian,

The Symposium is an annual event held over two days in both Pretoria and Cape Town, juid one day in Durban, and will be attended by some S50 delegates in 2007. All nine provmces of South Africa are represented at the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium and neighbouring countries like Swaziland, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia regularly send delegations. The public and private sectors are approximately equally represented.

Since 2003, involvement from the USA has been made possible by Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute, which has sponsored acclaimed speakers and other events at the Symposium. ITiis is an indication of the international recognition of this event. In 2007, they are making possible the launch of a joint initiative with Gauteng Health to help enhance foetal assessment skills of midwives. They have recognised too that the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium is an initiative that positively influences the lives of expectant women, babies, mothers and families from all strata of South African society.

The mission of the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium is to support all in this special profession lo be able to render the most sensitive service possible to our clients and patients. Programming will always update cxpenisc; present relevant research; provide new skills to the perinatal nurse/midwife fralcmity; challenge non-defcndable policies that negatively affect mothers, babies and young fiamilies; encourage complementary and sensitive practices relevant to the perinatal field; and last but not least celebrate the professions of midwifery and related fields by making the Symposium an inspiring, delightful and memorable event. Peri-urban and rural sector midwives are empowered in a way not often available to them, in so doing assisting the hospitals they come from and ultimately the whole community. Dialogue between private and pubiic sectors is encouraged, made possible and facilitated. Independent midwifery and babycare practitioners as we!l as allied health professionals also attend the Sensitive Midwifery Symposium, ensuring that this initiative enables the various players in the field of maternal and baby health to learn &om each other.

We would love to see you there for the 12th Sensitive Midwifery Sympofiiuin in May 2007

so hook your place now! Contact us on 012 .148 4992 or info(a;sisterlilian.coj!a

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ciwifer SYMPOSIUM" 7 S O U T H F K N A T R I C A

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-Ĵ > n̂*w PEDIATRIC INSTTTLITE: *

Programme Highlights (gel yt>ur personal invite for full details in voiir area)

Anatomy of the Laetating Breast • New Research

Reducing Pain in Children

How Homoeopathic Remedies are Made

Outcome of Neonates after Waterbirtb

Understanding ARV Tlierapy Updates: tlpidural & Cleft Palate

Low-tech Resuscitation of Babies

Breastmilk Expressing Regimes in NICU

Ways to Minimise Postpartum Sepsis South Africa's Very High Caesarean Section Rate

A New Look at Infertility

Saving Mothers Report

Educational Fashion Show Foetal Assessment Workbook Session

Organic Foods Factory Tour & CtK'ktail Function Face Profiling; Know Yourself and Your Patients

Keynote speakers: Leon MitoulHs, Phli. Medical Research Coordinator Meiieia. Switzerland Prof Justus Hofmeyr, HeadofOhstelrks and Gynaecology. Ea.si London Ilospital

To Book:

Call (012)348 4992

Email [email protected]

Cost R425/deiegate/day; Save R50 for two days; Students R225

^sisterlilian.co.za

March 2007 Nursing Update 57