By Tanya, Wall Street Services Reporter
Dr. Alden Cass, President of Competitive Streak Consulting, is better-known as the Stock Doc. As the go-to clinical psychologist for Wall Streeters, he specializes in working with corporate executives and financial industry professionals in balancing their professional and personal lives. His consulting firm researches mental health issues of top-tier professions and coaches employers on how to unleash the untapped potential of their talent.
Dr. Cass reveals his 5 steps to avoiding burnout during the 9-5 (or 7-9!) or on the job search:
1) Self Awareness Check-ups: Executives within high pressure, fast paced, and high paying work environments tend to hyper-focus on external tasks and achievements and therefore neglect their feelings and emotional health altogether. When an individual can prescribe themselves a 5-10 minute break a few times throughout their work day, they can focus on how they are feeling and assess which thoughts might be solution-focused and motivating and which ones are catastrophic, unrealistic and self defeating. In other words, take a real lunch break or take a brief walk outdoors to escape the labyrinth of cubicles!
2) Happiness = Reality/Expectations: This is a math formula that I conceived to display how important it is for an individual to keep an even balance between their expectations for success (personal/career-wise) and the actual reality of their performance.
Therefore, to achieve a more consistent level of happiness in their lives, it behooves an executive to create goals for him or herself but one must also examine all that can go right and wrong during their quest. Also take the aftermath of an achieved goal into consideration. (As a manager, can you handle a surge in extra responsibilities and increase oversight?) This strategy helps to insulate an individual from too much frustration and disappointment when their reality doesn’t align well with their initial expectations.
3) Think Bullish!: In everyday life executives are faced with setbacks, disappointments, and stressors that are often out of their control. However, two executives can face the same exact stressor and react completely differently to it. The X factor variable that determines how one will react (emotionally, physiologically, performance, and sense of control) to a job or relationship stressor is perception or attitude. One can actually manipulate the outcome of how they feel or perform during a stressor by identifying any faulty thoughts (Bearish thoughts) that might be leading to a sense of burnout. If they identify the cognitive errors floating around in their minds, they can challenge them with
more healthy, adaptive, and solution-focused self statements that are based on historical evidence. Thus, they can take control over the stressor and feel more empowered to change how they feel.
4) Remain Connected: To avoid burnout, stay emotionally connected with a good support network, family, friends, etc. Avoid being too externally focused and take your own emotional temperature on a more regular basis. By staying emotionally connected to your clients and spouses, you will receive many more positive benefits in exchange for your efforts. This will boost both your production and your love life.
5) Don’t Obsess Over Failures: It is very important to realize that humans are hard wired to obsess over their failures or setbacks for longer periods of time than they sit and relish their wins and successes. Focus on some of your big wins, visualize them, and anchor your thoughts onto those images when you feel particularly down or burned out.
Remember that most downhill phases in your relationships or work performance are temporary and will soon resolve. Sometimes taking a long-term perspective is helpful in overcoming burnout rather than placing too much weight on one data point within the context of a long season.
In Bullish Thinking: The Advisor’s Guide to Surviving and
Thriving on Wall Street, Dr. Cass reveals how to identify and overcome the major job stressors that flood the cut-throat industry of finance. His expert advice and action-oriented approaches will help you overcome the most bearish ruts in life.
