The Stress Doc Letter
Cybernotes from the Online Psychohumorist ™

MAR 2004, Sec. I

Fight when you can
Take flight when you must
Flow like a dream
In the Phoenix we trust!

Table of Contents

Shrink Rap:      (a) From Transition to Transformation:  Communing with "Chiros"
                         (b) When an Email Seems Like a Missile
Work Q & A:      When Management Ignores Workplace Threats
Readers:           Workplace Vocabulary Additions, Existential Sad but Truisms

Sec. II

Main Essay:      Myth of the Phoenix and PsychJourney
Heads Up:         SHRM-- Maryland Chapters, Natl Assn of Catering Execs
Offerings:         Training Kit; R&R CD; Safe Stress & Anger E-Books; AOL Chat
 

Shrink Rap (a):

Mastering the Process of Transition-Transformation
Communing with "Chiros"
 

Shrink Rap (b):

When an Email Seems Like a Missile

What was that aforementioned "dangerously" prescient line:  "Taking a risk while minimizing the precarious reality of the situation"?  I've come to appreciate that as you become more visible, both in the real world and in cyberspace, you don't just connect with other wonderful life and space explorers.  You also come-face-to-face with folks who believe that you are encroaching upon their territory, territory they supposedly have pioneered or must self-righteously protect.  Let me illustrate.

My level of excitement on returning from San Antonio was boosted when I saw an email from my co-book publisher, 1stBooks Library.  The final galley changes to Practice Safe Stress were ready for my inspection.  My baby's due date was rapidly approaching.  But then, sandwiched among the many pleading emails, was one that startled me:  Could someone have "Practice Safe Stress" as an email address?  The answer:  Yes!  And this individual did not just have an email address.

Someone had told my emailer of my Practice Safe Stress ebook.  Now I was being informed that in 2000 he had published Practice Safe Stress (HaHa Association).  And that it was selling nicely.  And he had the copyright.  And his final query:  "Is there a way we can avoid confusion and/or conflict?"

My interpretation:  "There isn't room for two Practice Safe Stress books."  Gulp!  And my anxiety level was rapidly rising.  A call to my former copyright lawyer (no longer in private practice) initially wasn't reassuring.  He speculated that if this individual had trademark rights, then my usage might be restricted.

I called an artist friend who casually said, "Hey make some small change in the title.  It's not such a big deal!"

My instant gut reaction:  "Nooooooooooo!"

"Practice Safe Stress" was my original creation.  It is my signature tag line.  It is my most requested speaking program.  It is almost as integral to my psychohumorist ™ persona as Stress Doc ™.  (A couple of years ago I had been reported to my professional association by a fellow social worker about the ethicality of my professional moniker -- Stress Doc.  Having the national trademark -- for educational and motivational speaking purposes -- eventually defused the challenge.  Then a couple of years later I received some threatening emails from professionals who, after reading my interview with The Washington Post, were aghast that I had shared stress assessments and my stress relief recommendations for Bush and Gore during the post-election stalemate.  There are people out there lying in wait.)  Believe me…I needed help right now in Practicing Safe Stress!

Stress Relief Ahead

After an angst-filled night of sleep (with emasculating dream themes), I reached two voices of reason:
1) a supervisor at 1stBooks informed me that a book title cannot be exclusively copyrighted and
2) a second copyright attorney reassured me that my book position and media persona were secure with my history of documented usage of Practice Safe Stress terminology.  (I had attempted to trademark Safe Stress in 1998 or so.  Another individual (not the inquiring author) had beaten me by a year.  But our lawyers reached an informal settlement.  Since I had coined, if not sired, the phrase at least ten years earlier and had used it continuously in the public domain, I retained "common law" rights to Practice Safe Stress, while the other party kept the trademark.  (As for being the "aha" inventor:  The time is around 1986, just as AIDS is penetrating national consciousness.  In a conversation with a nervous Legal Administrator about leading a stress retreat for thirty trial attorneys, it suddenly dawned on me that she wanted to make sure these verbal swordsmen didn't kill each other off.  I told her:  "You want a workshop workshop on…Safe Stress!")

Legally and psychologically fortified, I sent the "come lately" author the following note, abiding by the lawyer's advice to be civil:

I appreciate your note and attempt at clarification. For the record, I have been using the terms Safe Stress, Practice Safe Stress, Practicing Safe Stress since 1988.  I self-published a book titled From Stress Brakes and Shrink Rap to Safe Stress and Cool Moon Cats:  The Wit and Wisdom of the Stress Doc in 1994.  (And have sold it since then.)  I have commercial record of this usage in program fliers, published article titles in national magazines ("The Art of Practicing Safe Stress," Paradigm Magazine, Winter 1999), 1992 Library of Congress copyright of The Song of Safe Stress, in magazine interviews ("His tag line is 'Practice Safe Stress,'" Family Therapy Networker, Jan/Feb 1998), and dozens of testimonial letters from clients form the early '90s onward.  My use of the term both in articles, announcing my Practice Safe Stress speaking/workshop programs, and as a signature tag line was first archived in my May 1998 Stress Doc Newsletter.  I continue to use the tagline in my newsletters, which have gone out to about thousand or so readers across the globe for the past six years.  The usage has been continuous to the present.

My book also has a distinct subtitle:  Healing and Laughing in the Face of Stress, Burnout & Depression.  And as I'm sure you are aware, book titles cannot be copyrighted.  Having seen some web literature about your work, the content of our books I suspect are quite distinct.  I'm not aware of any confusion.  I hope we can coexist.

And it worked.  Within an hour, an email and call from the Safe Stress author saying I'm sure we can coexist.  (He brings a musical and educational perspective.  I'm not worried about duplication of content.  Of course, I also sing...but my Shrink Rap will never be mistaken for music.)

The moral:  Sometimes we need to reach out for support to be reminded of our own strengths and validity and, of course to…Practice Safe Stress!

 

Work Stress Q & A:

[Ed. Note:  This Q & A was originally written for and appeared in WorkforceOnline.com.]

When Management Ignores Workplace Threats

Q.  As a new employee with HR duties incorporated into my finance duties, I am uncertain on how to address a long known situation that has not been handled.  An employee of 20 years has a history of being belligerent.  In one instance last week, he stated to myself and another member of the management team "he did not want to have to get into someone's face in a minute."  What disturbed me is after he stormed out of the office, the other team member's response was "we are hoping he retires within 4-8 months."  I have worked for the company for a few months and feel uncomfortable working in the office where someone can make threats and a member of the management team is hoping to ride out the time until the employee's retirement.  What is the best way in bringing my concerns of working with an established individual who has a history of and continues to demonstrate veiled threats, especially, when other managers brush it off and say that is how he is?

A. As a new person on the block, a cautious problem-solving approach is understandable.  Yet this employee's behavior is palpably threatening and contributes to a hostile work environment.  His "storming out" behavior and the manager's "hopeful" comment evoke memories of my years in New Orleans when we often hoped "to ride out" a hurricane.   Even if the wind strength was a seemingly manageable Category I, invariably there was considerable secondary damage from flooding.  Clearly, this guy leaves stress, tension and morale issues in his wake.  The obvious question: in light of well-publicized workplace violence issues, why is such belligerent behavior being tolerated?  Why is there such organizational passivity?  Here are some initial diagnostic steps:

1.  Scope Out the Environment.  Find out where this individual fits in the organizational structure.  Does he have critical expertise or experience or does he make a special contribution so that allowances (dysfunctional though they may be) are made?  Is he the President's brother-in-law?  Are key decision-makers motivated by unspoken fear?  If possible, ask other colleagues for any inside information.

2.  Past Futility.  Has management tried addressing this bully's behavior in the past?  (It's hard to imagine there isn't a hostile track record.)  If so, were monitoring and/or disciplinary steps half-heartedly administered then dropped?  Is this why people are being so accommodating?

3.  Speak to the Boss.  Question this individual's boss or direct report for his or her take on this aggressive employee, as well as the boss' view of the company's harassment and discipline policy and procedure.  Is the boss an enabler?  Does the boss also deny the potential for violence?  Or does the boss feel his or her hands are tied from above?  And if you feel any of the above explorations may be harmful for you, then also consider the recommendations below.

Let's assume organizational inertia, if not denial, has set in; that the "local" authorities and colleagues are resigned to waiting the storm out.  Then my intervention steps are:

1.  Document the Aggressive Behavior.   You need a record of factual examples, spoken words, and nonverbal gestures; any threatening or hostile actions should be documented.

2.  Seek Outside Help.  Enlist outside support from personnel who are not in everyday contact with this antagonistic employee, for example, a Safety Officer or an Employee Assistance Program counselor (if such a service exists).  Most likely these professionals will not be resigned or inured to such hostilities; they will be equally as concerned.  These professionals need to speak to the boss of this belligerent individual.  Your presence would not be required.

3.  The Meeting and Aftermath.  This boss must explain the breakdown in supervision, and he must commit to providing firm and competent supervision (assuming he is capable).  The employee needs to be confronted about his pattern of threatening behavior; there should also be a strong recommendation for anger management.  And the employee needs to be put on a formal Performance Improvement Plan that the boss will monitor, initially on a weekly basis.

4.  Intervention with the Boss.  I would also have this boss report to someone in upper management or, even, have him or her receive some management coaching from an outside consultant.  This boss must be held accountable regarding his supervisory responsibilities.

If this boss proves intractable, then these intervention personnel must approach the highest levels of management.  The executive or executive team must understand the ongoing climate of harassment that is being tolerated, as well as the potential for violence.  (And of course, this potential does not only reside in the bully.  In Columbine-like fashion, violent reactions can also come from those feeling victimized.)  Sometimes mentioning possible legal ramifications gets a decision-maker's attention. 

5.  Need for Structural Intervention.  In addition to making sure there is an effective supervisor for this aggressor (and, in fact, a new supervisor may need to be brought in), the structural nature of the dysfunction needs to be addressed.  Upper management needs to task HR, Safety, and other relevant parties to generate and/or publicize a formal Harassment/Violence Prevention policy.  Systems-wide training on these issues is critical, first for managers and supervisors (who clearly need it) and then for all employees.

Conclusion

On a hopeful note, consider this example.  Though it took decades, even Bobby Knight, the former basketball coach at Indiana, whose celebrated success on the basketball court was only matched by his infamous temper and bullying behavior, was dismissed for his pattern of unacceptable behavior.  (And while he found a new job, alas, as recent events have shown, Knight's explosive baggage travels with him.)

However, if despite all these steps the company instituted no positive and sustainable action plan, I would be updating the resume.  Without significant change, this environment will continue to be toxic.  Even if this bully doesn't directly burn you, there's always the fallout and burnout from second hand smoke.  You deserve better.  Just remember…Practice Safe Stress!
 

Readers:

Subj:   Essential Additions for the Workplace Vocabulary
From:  MDodick

BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

SEAGULLING:  A manager who makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than
working hard.

SALMON DAY: The experience of spending the entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

CUBE FARM:  Complex of tight office workspaces.

PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a Cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the
walls to see what's going on.

MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

SITCOMs: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.

STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiney.

SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive
use.

XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace.

IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.
The J-Lo and Ben wedding  (or not) was a prime example.

PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the
adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested document could not be located.

GENERICA: Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints,
strip malls, and subdivisions.

OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake.

WOOF'S: Well-Off Older Folks.

CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously farting while passing through a Cube Farm.
----------

Subj:  Existential Sad but Truisms
From:  Mdodick

1. If you're too open-minded, your brains will fall out.

2. Don't worry about what people think; they don't do it very often.

3. Going to a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

4. It isn't the jeans that make your butt look fat.

5. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.

8. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.

9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.

12. A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel good.

13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway. (Just remember how lucky you were to get
a free trip around the sun.)

14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.

15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

16. A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.

18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.

19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.

21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

22. By the time you can make the ends meet, they move the ends.

23. Thou shall not weigh more than thy refrigerator.

24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

25. If you must choose between two evils, choose the one that you've never tried before