| Results
from the Peak Performance programme in 972 participants as measured
by the Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment instrument
Background
Below are the results from 1-day or 2-day Peak
Performance programmes delivered at organizations in industries that
include high tech, world class banks, manufacturing, distribution
and service. 972 participants represent a wide range of positions
and functions: executive, senior and middle level management, engineering,
administration, sales, customer service and assembly.
In
most cases, programme objectives related to improving performance
in the face of growth and change, managing stress, improving
communication and leadership skills, reducing attrition, improving
customer satisfaction while dealing with increasing demands,
and maintaining good health in the process.
 Context
Most world-class companies are in the grip of
continuous change and transformation and it seems that the pace of
change is increasing.
Some organizations are in
a perpetual re-organization cycle, some are struggling with the problems of globalization
as they try to rationalize their approach to a "world market, " and
all are at the mercy of severe market fluctuation.
But
whether it is downsizing, outsourcing, more sophisticated markets,
more demanding customers and providers, more competition, information
overload, rapid access and technological changes or all of
the above facing a business, there is little doubt that we
have created the most complex working environment in history.
Some people find this rapidly changing "new-world" challenging
and stimulating but many find it stressful and cope with increasing
difficulty.
In
order for individuals to flourish in such rapidly changing
times and perform at their peak they need to be able to handle
stress, be more flexible, more adaptable and more resilient.In
short they need to be smarter than before.
Science
Recent research by cardiologists and neuroscientists has shown that powerful
techniques are available that can generate rapid and significant improvements
in:
- mental
clarity, creativity and decision making
- organizational
cohesiveness
- cardiovascular
flexibility
- hormonal
balance
- immune
function
Specifically
this research has demonstrated that there is a profound link
between productivity, brain function, cardiovascular health
and stress. Learning
how to consciously change the quality of the internal signal from the heart
to the brain enables individuals to maximize cortical function.This enhances
clarity, creativity and insight, which are the key factors determining
an individual’s personal performance. These techniques are therefore
capable of improving personal and organizational effectiveness, adaptability,
productivity, and morale.
The Peak Performance
Programme
The Peak Performance programme is based on this
scientific research and has been shown to impact a wide variety
of health and business performance indicators, while improving job
satisfaction. The programme is formatted as a one or two-day workshop
accommodating up to 25 attendees.
Measurements
The Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment
(POQA) is an 80 item self-report inventory with 14 separate dimensions
designed to reflect key elements that underpin performance and quality.
Assessments were collected just prior to the training and again
about 6-8 weeks after the training day.
The
data reads as follows:
eg.Item #1: ("I feel Angry") :The
number of people who said they felt
angry often or most of the time
decreased from 12% to 4% (change of 67%) after the programme. Psychometric
Results
|
1.
Personal Data
|
Pre
|
Post
|
N=972
|
|
|
Before
|
6-8
weeks
|
|
|
I
feel Angry
|
12%
|
4%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Annoyed
|
24%
|
11%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Mad
|
10%
|
3%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Tense
|
27%
|
10%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Anxious
|
26%
|
11%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Uneasy
|
13%
|
5%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Worried
|
27%
|
11%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Exhausted
|
33%
|
16%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Tired
|
40%
|
22%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Fatigued
|
32%
|
17%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Hopeless
|
5%
|
2%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Depressed
|
11%
|
4%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Worthless
|
4%
|
2%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Unhappy
|
15%
|
5%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Sad
|
10%
|
4%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Blue
|
9%
|
4%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Caring
|
88%
|
90%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Kind
|
86%
|
91%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Loving
|
80%
|
86%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Cheerful
|
75%
|
82%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Happy
|
73%
|
82%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Calm
|
63%
|
79%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Peaceful
|
50%
|
71%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Relaxed
|
44%
|
64%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Clear headed
|
78%
|
85%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Focused
|
74%
|
81%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Mentally alert
|
82%
|
87%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Energetic
|
58%
|
69%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Lively
|
59%
|
70%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Active
|
66%
|
74%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Healthy
|
75%
|
80%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Physically fit
|
42%
|
52%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
feel Well
|
76%
|
80%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
experience Sleeplessness
|
17%
|
9%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
experience Body aches (Headaches, Backaches, etc.)
|
34%
|
18%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
|
I
experience Indigestion
|
12%
|
7%
|
Often/Most
of the time
|
| I
experience Rapid heartbeats |
7% |
3% |
Often/Most
of the time |
|
|
2.
Business Data
|
Pre
|
Post
|
|
| |
Before |
4-8
weeks |
|
| We
listen carefully to each other at work |
53%
|
63%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
My
supervisor and I communicate well with each other
|
69%
|
73%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
Our
meetings at work are well organized
|
40%
|
47%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
People
where I work feel free to express their opinions
|
52%
|
58%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
listen closely to my co-workers |
84%
|
89%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
communicate with "higher-ups"at work when
needed |
86%
|
90%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
accomplish my objectives at work |
84%
|
89%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
am efficient at work |
86%
|
91%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| My
work produces excellent results |
76%
|
84%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
understand the priorities of my work goals |
88%
|
92%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| The
goals of my work organization are clear to me |
67%
|
73%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| My
work goals and my work organization's goals are the
same |
61%
|
68%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
My
work objectives are very specific
|
63%
|
69%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
feel like leaving this organization
|
21%
|
16%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
feel like quitting my job |
18%
|
13%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
feel good about what I do at work |
81%
|
86%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
like my job
|
81%
|
83%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
am satisfied with my duties at work
|
66%
|
69%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
feel appreciated
|
65%
|
77%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
feel cared for
|
69%
|
78%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
| I
feel supported by those close to me |
77%
|
82%
|
Agree/Strongly
agree |
|
I
feel conflict between work and personal priorities
|
38% |
33% |
Agree/Strongly
agree
|
|
© 2002, HeartMath LLC
|
