HeartMath Case Study -- Leadership

 

Bay Area Rapid Transit -- Leadership Team

Situation

Like most organisations, 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 organisation 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 organisation 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 organisational 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 organisational 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 organisational 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.

organisational: 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%

 

organisational 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 organisation
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 Information
Telephone: (02) 9412 2500 (Australia)
Telephone: +61 2 9412 2500 (International)
E-Mail: info@macquarieinstitute.com.au

Download our PDF brochure