Prof Anthony Clare was pressed for time yesterday when he gave a stirring presentation to the annual conference of the Institute of Personnel and Development at Tralee.

The medical director of St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin, had plenty of ideas on "the war for talent - the best drives out the good", but only just enough time to deliver his paper.

Having hitched a lift to Co Kerry in Mr McCreevy's helicopter, he was also hoping to join the Minister for Finance on the flight back to the capital.

But the Minister spoke before the professor, so the clock was ticking from the very beginning.

Not that this left Prof Clare unduly stressed, for the eminent psychiatrist outlined a positive view on the concept of pressure.

As expected, his presentation was a model of clarity and wit - albeit one which was alert to the danger of being left on the afternoon train to Dublin if he went overtime.

Stress was negative, Prof Clare said, but it could be harnessed for positive effect.

He told the gathering of human resources managers, "if anyone in the audience is not feeling stressed, I suggest they see a forensic pathologist".

Happily, there were no volunteers. For Prof Clare, however, the serious point was this: managing stress was a crucial task for those attempting to cope with the changes wrought by the economic boom.

People and companies who failed to do this would face "extreme stress", with consequences which were not good at all. Desperate measures taken by people overwhelmed by stress appealed to the "worst elements" of the macho male, he warned. It was as if the macho male was the worst of the species.

But the message had consequences also for those who pursued perfection, particularly by means of obsession or ruthlessness.

"The best drives out the good and you end up with neither. Never lose the aspiration of the best, but never lose the assessment of what is possible," he said.

For managers, the objective should be to exploit talent and cultivate creativity. "In any group enterprise, the task of leaders is to exploit the human potential around them."

This should leave little room for trifling management matters such as the control of "gossip", Prof Clare advised.

"People who do not gossip are either dead or extremely paranoid. In some Irish companies, it's difficult to distinguish one from the other."

On the whole, however, Ireland was characterised by a "longstanding commitment to people as people". Maintaining this would be critical to the continued growth of the economy.

"The idea is that work is a means to live - work as a means to express potential, not as an end in itself. If not we'll end up like many other countries. Affluent, but miserable."

Encouragement, fulfilment, a commitment to quality, development and the provision of proper resources were all vital elements in the mix. And achieving a balance between work and other pursuits was important too.

Young people should remember this, the professor said.

They should also be cautious of expecting too much, too early, from professional life.

"It's not all helicopter rides with the Minister for Finance."

Shortly afterwards, the great man was gone. But not before he returned briefly to retrieve his briefcase.