Employees face ongoing pressures that can affect communication, decision‑making, and well‑being. Navigating Stress in the Workplace is designed to help participants understand stress, manage its impact, and strengthen their communication to prevent conflict and burnout.

The training builds on participants’ lived experience, supports personal and team resilience, and reinforces skills that contribute to healthier workplaces and stronger service delivery.

What to expect in this workshop

This workshop emphasizes emotional intelligence, de‑escalation, trauma‑informed communication, and collaboration.

Through four core modules, you’ll:

• Examine how stress affects the body and brain.

• Learn practical techniques for self‑regulation.

• Build skills to communicate effectively during high‑stress situations.

• Practice stress‑reduction techniques like mindfulness and guided meditation

• Apply NCRC’s ART communication framework (Active Awareness, Respond Respectfully, Troubleshoot Together)

• Engage in real‑world scenarios relevant to public service work

Learning objectives for Navigating Stress in the Workplace

Exploring stress

• Identify common sources of workplace stress, including stressors unique to their department and role

• Describe how stress affects the body and brain, including the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

• Explain the difference between the “survival brain” and the “learning brain” and how stress impacts decision‑making, emotional intelligence, and communication

Recognizing stress in me

• Assess current stress levels using a confidential self‑inventory

• Identify key components of wellness at work, including social, mental, physical, cultural, and environmental factors

• Apply self‑awareness and self‑management strategies to regulate emotions and reduce stress

• Practice techniques for self‑de‑escalation, time management, and emotional regulation to prevent burnout

Navigating stress in others

• Recognize verbal, non‑verbal, and behavioral indicators of stress in others

• Use Active Awareness skills, including empathetic listening and awareness of body language and neuroception

• Apply the Respond Respectfully strategies using trauma‑informed, open‑ended questions and acknowledgment of responsibility

• Practice Troubleshooting Together to communicate perspectives clearly, reduce defensiveness, and support collaborative problem‑solving during stressful interactions

Cultivating resilience together

• Define resilience and assess your current level of resilience

• Apply practical strategies to strengthen personal resilience in the workplace

• Identify characteristics of resilient teams and practices that support collective well‑being

• Develop communication and leadership skills that promote connection, emotional intelligence, and resilience across teams