Did you know that the average working adult feels distressed for over a third of their working day?

Sound familiar?

I’m proud to say that on most days I’ve worked to keep it under that. But it’s not always easy. On low CQ days, I might blame my phone for the endless email pings, Teams messages, and WhatsApp calls. Or maybe I accuse the Lime bike of running out of battery when I’m still 30 minutes away from my next set of back-to-back meetings.

Distress rarely stems from just one or two causes; it often builds quietly out of a mix of unseen pressures - mental strain, mounting workloads, looming deadlines, poor communication, and sudden last-minute cancellations (from a babysitter or dog walker, perhaps). All of this leaves me feeling one thing: out of control.

This is exactly why I developed CQ (Communication Quotient™) training. High CQ gives us tools to regain that sense of control, helping us turn stress into focused productivity. With High CQ, we shift from reactive to proactive, from overwhelmed to clear-headed.

A Harvard Business Review study shows that 84% of workers experience burnout, with stress being the leading factor. That’s why mastering High CQ is essential to today’s workforce. It allows us to handle pressure with grace and teaches us to communicate with clarity - even under challenging circumstances. Why should we master High CQ?
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• Increased productivity: Stress management can boost workplace performance by up to 33% (American Psychological Association).
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• Better decision-making: Studies show that mindful communication enhances cognitive function, leading to clearer thinking and 20% fewer errors on high-stakes tasks (Journal of Applied Psychology).
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• Healthier work environment: Companies with effective stress management programs see 41% lower absenteeism rates and 62% higher employee retention (Gallup).

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What’s the common thread? Control.


High CQ enables us to regain that control. It helps us pause, recalibrate, and communicate with composure, even when work feels overwhelming. Without these skills, our stress can escalate - like when I’m firefighting at work and hit with one too many passive-aggressive emojis in Teams (yes, I’ve been tempted to scream in a meeting pod too).

Distress isn’t just unpleasant. It impacts our performance, collaboration, and well-being. Understanding and applying High CQ tactics can help us release pressure and regain mental clarity. It transforms how we react, making us less likely to let stress build up into a bigger issue that it needs to be.