For Stress Awareness Month (April), Ali Grady, Co-Founder and Director of Coaching and Training at The Thrive Team, shares some valuable insights about the difference between beneficial stress and harmful distress.
Is there such a thing as “good stress”?
While many of us view stress as entirely negative, Ali Grady explains that the right amount of pressure can actually improve our performance and productivity.
The Performance Curve
In this video, Ali walks us through a helpful performance curve that demonstrates how different levels of pressure affect our work and wellbeing. This visual model illustrates the journey from under-stimulation through optimal performance and into the danger zone of distress.
The curve reveals that without any pressure, we can feel bored and disengaged. With just the right amount, we enter “Eustress” where we’re focused, energised and doing our best work. But push beyond that, and we risk tipping into harmful distress, bringing physical symptoms and potential burnout.
Finding your balance
To manage stress effectively, we need to recognise our personal tipping point. That’s the boundary between helpful eustress and harmful distress. Each person’s threshold is different, and being aware of your own signals helps you maintain performance without suffering negative consequences. Understanding where your optimal pressure zone lies, supports you to better manage your workload and responsibilities.
As Ali wisely notes:
“A diamond is a chunk of coal that has done well under pressure.”
The right amount of stress can transform our performance and help us shine, but only if we’re careful not to cross into the danger zone of distress. Recognising and respecting these boundaries is essential for sustainable high performance and wellbeing.
Watch the full video featuring Ali for more insights on managing stress effectively and to see the performance curve in action.