Profile of the Month:
Coping & Stress Profile^®

The American Institute of Stress reports that U.S. companies spend $150 billion annually due to stress. Worldwide, one out of every five workers admits taking time off from work due to stress. It is said "life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it." Therefore, stress is not just determined by the stressor, it's also how individuals deal with stress.

Stress has a great impact on individuals, teams, and organizations. A major cause of poor productivity in organizations can be attributed to the inability to cope with stress. Individuals that can cope with stress seem to enjoy what they do, live healthier lives, and are more productive.

It's important to recognize that not all stress is bad. Sometimes, stress motivates people into action and keeps people engaged. However, stress can be harmful when the individual lacks effective coping skills.

When individuals learn how to become aware of stressors and their emotional and physical reactions to the stressors, they have taken a valuable step in managing their stress. Next, individuals need to learn how recognize those things that can be changed and those that cannot. Finally, individuals need to learn how to capitalize on coping strategies to manage the situations they can impact and the stress that accompanies their experiences.

The Coping & Stress Profile^® by Inscape Publishing is a unique new learning instrument that connects stress and coping in four life areas:

* Personal 
* Work 
* Couple 
* Family

Learners gain important insights into how stress in one life area impacts other areas, how coping resources in one area can be used to decrease stress in another, and how stress, coping resources and overall life satisfaction are closely related. 

The Coping & Stress Profile^® research shows that people who develop and use relationship coping resources manage their stress far more effectively than people who rely only on personal coping resources, like diet and exercise. The four key relationship coping resources are:

1. Problem Solving: The ability to deal directly with problems and make positive changes to resolve them. 
2. Communication: The ability to honestly share thoughts and feelings with others to promote mutual understanding. 
3. Closeness: A comfort level with others and the ability to connect with people in your environment. 
4. Flexibility: An openness and ability to respond to change.

The Coping & Stress Profile^® helps people to:

* Discover individual stress issues in each relevant life area. 
* Capitalize on coping strengths to manage stress. 
* Learn to minimize or eliminate common, daily stressors. 
* Identify areas for coping skills improvement. 
* Develop flexibility in responding to change. 
* Communicate more effectively to improve problem solving. 
* Build mutually supportive relationships.

To receive a free Coping & Stress Profile^® sample report, email Jeff Backal or call 856.596.4196.

For more information or to purchase the Coping & Stress Profile ^®, go to www.AssessmentTools.com.