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 Anxiety.
Tension. Stress. The global financial crisis
and prolonged recession still weigh heavy on most
organizations. After so much upheaval, many leaders
wonder what their people need now. Consider your own
people... Are they poised to pounce on new
opportunities? Stretching to perform at higher levels?
Excited, confident, and innovative? If not, you may want
to focus on creating just enough anxiety.
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High-Wire
Act: Tension at Work: A recent
telephone survey of working Americans by
Healthy Companies International found that
fewer than half say their workplace has
the right level of tension. CLICK
HERE for article. |
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What Great Leaders Know Anxiety is like a rubber band. Pull it too hard; it breaks. Don’t pull it hard enough; nothing happens. Great leaders know that the right amount of anxiety propels people forward and maximizes performance. They understand the three faces of anxiety.
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“I
came in to reverse the negative trend and make
Ford a viable business. That’s created some
anxiety. But this anxiety is liberating.”
—
Alan Mulally,
President and CEO,
Ford Motor Company |
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- Too little
anxiety—the face of complacency. Most people consider anxiety “bad,” but too little anxiety saps the energy and innovation that make an organization competitive. Arising from the belief that change is unnecessary, TLA leads to boredom and stagnation.
- Too much
anxiety—the face of fear. Arising from negative thinking, too much anxiety can immobilize an organization. Or, it can create chaos leading to massive wasted effort. Either way, TMA lowers productivity and destroys morale.
- Just enough
anxiety—the face of success. Fueled by positive energy, JEA compels action, stretches people beyond current capabilities, and accelerates sustainable growth.
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“I
look for people who have high levels of
energy, make decisions based on facts, and
have the right emotional quotient to deal
with a fair degree of anxiety.”
—
Todd Stitzer,
Former CEO, Cadbury plc |
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Ask yourself...
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Which face do I see in the
mirror: TLA, TMA, or JEA?
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How would I describe the tension level in my
organization?
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Do I need to turn up or dial down the pressure to create
just enough anxiety?
Like what you read? Subscribe for future editions.
Want to know more? Download the opening chapter to the book Just Enough
Anxiety.
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