1. Handling Pressure and Challenges – A Scientific Approach
Maureen O’Callaghan

2. The Session What is stress? Pressures and challenges faced by SMEs
The effects of stress
How to prevent stress
Coping when facing pressures and challenges
Opportunities

3. Stress
Stress generally refers to two things: the psychological perception of pressure, on the one hand, and the body's response to it, on the other, 

4. Table discussion
What are the pressures and challenges facing Positive Networking members?

5. Stress and SMEs
Lack of control – working with external business partners, clients, investors and other outside parties
Reacting too soon and too fast – reactions that are often emotionally driven
No time to “ Do it all”
Trying to balance work and home demands
Uncertainty

6. Table discussion How does stress affect you?
Physically- short and long-term?
The way you think and the content of your thoughts
The way you feel emotionally?
The way you behave?

7. The coping brain

8. Mindfulness
Paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally" "Bringing one's complete attention to the present experience on a moment-to-moment basis“
Used by top companies - Google, General Mills, Intel, Aetna, Goldman Barclays, PWC, Yahoo! Deutsche Bank and Procter & Gamble

9. Mindfulness and the brain
8 weeks
20 minutes a day

10. Reported benefits of mindfulness
Improved resilience / wellbeing
Enhanced working relationships
Improved performance - leadership, decision-making, organisational transformation, focus and concentration, and creativity and innovation

11. A mindful approach to business

12. The importance of self - care
Include each day an activity that gives you pleasure
Stop during the day to identify and acknowledge what you have achieved
Adopt a more mindful approach to running the business – respond rather than react

13. Pass it on challenge You each have a postcard Share the postcard
Take a picture and share on twitter
Add #wellbeanie
Mention
The most imaginative wins a free session

14. Recap – we have looked at
Pressures and challenges
How these impact on us
Mindfulness
How to adopt a more mindful approach

15. Thank you for your attention
Any questions? Maureen T: E: W: