Fitness for Duty: The Psychological Dimension

An individual requires systematic preventive maintenance for optimal performance, just as machines do. This paper highlights three essential elements for psychological fitness for work: a sense of mastery over self, work and life; internal dialogue that contributes to self-respect and self-esteem; and the development of supportive networks at work and in his personal life. Some suggestions are made to assist the reader in enhancing these elements for himself and for those people whose lives he affects.