How Does A Tennis Ball Know: The Invisible Power of Positive Intent

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How Does a Tennis Ball Know You
Will Follow Through with Your Swing?
Ijournal Assignment

Workplace Anxiety; Impacts on the Team

Sometimes leaders miss the cues that anxiety or stress is heightened. Anxiety in the workplace is associated with: elevated fatigue; increased stress; irritability; memory, attention or concentration problems; increased worrying and anxious thoughts; moodiness, agitation, restlessness, irritability; feeling overwhelmed; neglecting certain responsibilities.

These signs can show up collectively in a team, and there are clues or symptoms leaders can observe to help them determine how healthy or unhealthy their organizations are.

1. Turf protection

Do people take sides with other people instead of taking stands on issues? Do they stay focused on the issues at hand, or let personalities get in the way?

Do they form coalitions or cliques that create an us/them mentality?

Is there a lot of blaming of other people or departments?

Do people assert their territory to the detriment of the organization as a whole? Do they make decisions that are solely in their own self interest rather than for the greater success of the entire organization?

Are backstabbing and turf wars a way of life?

2. Silent agreement or disagreement

Do groups tend to come to rapid agreement with very little discussion or dissent?

Do people tend to avoid conflict by avoiding each other?

3. Lack of strategic alignment

Does leadership send out conflicting instructions and mixed messages? Are organizational objectives contradictory or unclear?

Is high productivity emphasized as the key to organizational well-being…or is the theme of most conversations “we are all so busy, under so much pressure, or overworked?

If you observe these behaviors in your team, the April 13 show is filled with suggestions and strategies for getting back on track.

Overall:

Start the conversations about the elephant in the room. Talk openly about the reality in the general economy as well as the facts that affect your organization.

Take a pulse check of general anxiety or worry in your organization. Encourage people to use the EAP if you have one.

Be very clear about objectives, working agreements and expectations.

Notice if your staff is acting out of character in terms of work quality, responsiveness or relationships. Engage in courageous conversations.

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How Does a Tennis Ball Know You Will Follow Through with Your Swing? Ijournal Assignment

How Does a Tennis Ball Know You
Will Follow Through with Your Swing?
Ijournal Assignment