HeartMath Case Study -- Leadership
Bay Area Rapid Transit -- Leadership Team
Situation
Like most organizations, BART is in the grip of dynamic change and transformation. The 30-year old transit company is dealing with multiple challenges: aggressive expansion goals, increasing customer demands and complaints, sensitive labor negotiations, aging equipment challenges, and new security concerns since September 11. In order for both the individuals and the organization to flourish in such rapidly changing times, protect their health and perform at their peak they need to be able to handle stress, be more flexible, collaborative and resilient.
A strong advantage at BART is the maturity of the leadership team, many of whom have been with the organization for over 20 years. Protecting the health of this experienced talent pool is key.
The HeartMath Project Goals:
- Improve resilience and ability to perform under pressure
- Improve productivity and communication
- Reduce fatigue, anxiety, stress
The HeartMath Solution:
The BART Leadership attended a one-day "Power to Change Performance" program. The program presented HeartMath's system of self-management technologies for improving personal and organizational performance, focus under pressure, communication and reducing stress.
Metrics
The benefits of the program were determined by assessing a number of health and business performance indicators before and after the program.
The
Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment
(POQA):
A total of eighty-four (84) attendees completed the POQA prior to their training
and fifty-one (51) individuals completed the follow up POQA approximately forty-five
(45) days later. The POQA consists of 85 questions with 19 separate constructs
tracking health, well being and business performance. Each question has a five-point
response scale. The data below is drawn from the top two bins (i.e. "Often/
Most of the Time" and "Somewhat Agree/Strongly Agree"). This provides the most accurate snapshot of the key, critical areas of change.
Results
Results included both personal and organizational benefits.
Personal: Significant improvements were made in most categories of the personal well being and stress reduction constructs. This is highly noteworthy, particularly considering the difficult conditions and pressures the group was under. Most significant were reductions in worry, uneasiness, tension and anxiety as well as in feelings of exhaustion, tiredness and fatigue. Substantial improvements were also seen in sleeplessness and body aches.
Organizational: Particularly strong improvements were seen in productivity, efficiency, job satisfaction and feelings of being appreciated and cared for. Gains were also seen in communication.
Four BART staff from the Training Department became HeartMath Trainers and coaches in order to deploy the tools to front line staff as well as to continue to support the management. HeartMath was also brought in the following year for a 1-day advanced training for the Leaders.
| Personal Benefits | ||
| (participants that responded 'Often/Most of the Time' to initial assessment) | ||
Pre
Training
|
Post
Training
|
|
| Mad | 14%
|
10%
|
| Tense | 27%
|
18%
|
| Anxious | 35%
|
12%
|
| Uneasy | 13%
|
6%
|
| Worried | 32%
|
16%
|
| Exhausted | 26%
|
18%
|
| Tired | 35%
|
18%
|
| Fatigued | 31%
|
13%
|
| Hopeless | 4%
|
2%
|
| Depressed | 10%
|
8%
|
| Worthless | 6%
|
2%
|
| Unhappy | 15%
|
10%
|
| Kind | 78%
|
82%
|
| Loving | 75%
|
84%
|
| Cheerful | 70%
|
82%
|
| Mentally alert | 83%
|
86%
|
| Sleeplessness | 18%
|
12%
|
| Body aches (headaches, backaches, etc.) | 24%
|
16%
|
| Organizational Benefits | ||
| (participants that responded 'Agree/Strongly Agree' to initial assessment) | ||
Pre
Training
|
Post
Training
|
|
| My supervisor and I communicate well with each other | 74%
|
80%
|
| I listen closely to my co-workers | 85%
|
92%
|
| I am productive at work | 87%
|
94%
|
| I am efficient at work | 81%
|
86%
|
| I understand the priorities of my work goals | 90%
|
94%
|
| I feel like leaving this organization | 19%
|
16%
|
| I like my job | 83%
|
90%
|
| I am satisfied with my duties at work | 79%
|
82%
|
| I feel appreciated | 64%
|
80%
|
| I feel cared for | 62%
|
75%
|
For more information on corporate programs contact:
Sibyl Cryer
Director, Corporate Programs
Telephone: (800) 450-9111, Ext. 747 (Toll-Free)
Telephone: (831) 338-8700, Ext. 747 (International)
E-Mail: scryer@heartmath.com
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