FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Q: What is Stress Management Initiative (SMI)?
A: SMI has been set up in line with the Government Health & Safety guidelines to help reduce stress in the workplace. It envelopes simply taught exercises to alter a person's attitude and approach to their working situation. The exercises serve to motivate a person to enjoy their work. The modules that are taught focus first of all on reducing a person's stress response, which is an adverse response to an external pressure, and allows them to work more effectively and efficiently. The exercises SMI use consist of autogenics, knapography and focus techniques that have been taught to individuals and groups for the last 15 years. Q: How does it work?
A: Each individual completes a detailed questionnaire to help identify the causes of stress at work and then attends a number of the SMI modules to help look at areas that can be changed or introduced to help reduce and even eliminate these causes. Q: Who is SMI for?
A: The wide range of modules available are designed for the whole of the work force. From blue collar workers all the way up to management and senior executives. The modules cater to different needs of the work force in question, whether it be an individual's needs to recognise what they are good at or team building techniques to help work more efficiently with the minimum of fuss. Modules allow an individual to cope with their own stresses (i.e.: separation, divorce, bereavement, injury, illness, job loss, etc.). Q: If my work load is excessive how will SMI help?
A: We utilise four approaches to the amount of work of an individual, reducing stress, improving efficiency, focusing on the challenges and getting help. Q: My team are not working well together, what can I or SMI do?
A: The team building module SMI run is ideal for people to cohere and gel, by recognising individual talents and strength as well as weaknesses, which can then be worked on. If there is a conflict within the team the conflict resolution module give teams members the opportunity to voice their grievances, to be heard and to recognise a need for change and act on this. Q: I do not need any stress management, I am fine.
A: If this is the case, SMI are offering you the chance to train as Stress Management Coaches within your working environment, and give the benefits of your relaxed attitude to others. | 
