EP007 - Let’s Talk About Stress with Susan Botfield

Be Your Best In Business with Ian Luckett

Susan Botfield is a business psychologist, an executive coach with over 15 years of experience in coaching senior managers and directors towards high performance and improving their productivity level.

Her specialty is about resilience in the workplace.

In this episode of the “Be Your Best in Business” podcast, we discuss the importance of getting the training and coaching that you need, whether the organisation you work for pays for it, or whether it is for your own self development.

Susan understands that corporate life operates in a VUCA environment. VUCA stands for Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous business world.

We also talked about how the word "Stress" is no longer used as much in the workplace now. Instead, as Susan shared, how it is now known as Resilience, as this is a more positive aspect to it because you can either gain it or lose it.

Susan also shared the difference between an ordinary person and a worrier!

In this episode, we talked about the signs to look out for when your resilience is dropping. Susan says that this includes the subtle symptoms such as an emotional overreactions to simple setbacks at work.

Susan has also talked about how 40-50% of our ability to cope up with life’s pressure is genetic, 10% is a result of learning from life’s adversity, and the remaining can be learned and affected by others.

We also dicussed the five main sources of resilience, which includes a balance of the following:

1. Job Security – feeling safe at work or in your career path
2. Having a Purpose in Life – your “WHY”, when you have no purpose in life, you fall down on resilience.
3. Friends and Mentors – they are a very great help during our difficult times.
4. Health and Fitness – taking care of your physical well-being is key.
5. Have a Spiritual Life – in whatever form. It helps us to stay grounded.

Golden Nugget Round

Question 1 – What would you tell your 25 Year Old Self?

Engage with a personal trainer at the gym, even for just one or two sessions. And learn to use the weights.

I would certainly hire a coach or a mentor, even for one session, just to understand the different types of coaching disciplines that are out there, and understand what suits me best.

Question 2 – What would you Lecturer at University today

Emotional Balance. There are so many different tools out there that help you feel steady and grounded at work, as opposed to reacting to stuff that happens. (Responding than reacting.)

Question 3 – What was your biggest investment or financial decision

Buying two dogs. In the last 13 years, no matter what happens those two dogs have had at least two walks a day whether it rains, snows, hails, or blistering heat. They have given me the opportunity to get out amongst green nature.

Guest Details

To contact Susan, feel free to e-mail her at [e-mail]

Links and Resources

https://www.fourpillarscoaching.com/

Quotes

If the corporation you are working for isn’t giving you management training, please go out and find it yourself. Don’t sit around waiting for it to be paid for. –Susan Botfield

Our direct supervisors are responsible for 70% of our good feelings at work, and therefore they are responsible for our productivity and performance. –Susan Botfield

We are always looking for an optimum amount of stress. Not all stress is bad! –Susan Botfield

Resilience is more about the capacity to remain flexible in our thoughts, behaviours, and emotions when we are under stress or under pressure. And the ability to recover or bounce back from an adverse event. –Susan Botfield

There’s a very old saying that you can catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. –Susan Botfield