Pink Elephant Blog
Quack, Quack! The Duck Syndrome and What Leaders Need to Know About It
The duck syndrome is a phrase coined many years ago about student anxiety within the college world, and it is now also used to describe some types of anxiety in the workplace. The duck syndrome describes when a person makes it appear that they are gliding along effortlessly and gracefully when really, under the surface, they are paddling away like crazy to stay afloat.
Ducks usually look very cool, calm, and collected, but if you had the ability to look under the water, you would see that the duck’s feet are moving furiously! Now, imagine taking a similar view of people at work.
Are people really what they seem?
In their latest book, Anxiety at Work: 8 Strategies to Help Teams Build Resilience, Handle Uncertainty, and Get Stuff Done, one of the subjects that co-authors Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton tackle is the duck syndrome. They challenge leaders to ask themselves: Are people on my team really what they seem? Or, are they just making it look like they’re calm and collected but, underneath the surface, are they struggling and frantically trying to keep afloat? How can I tell what is really going on?
Chester Elton will provide in-person guidance about how to deal with these questions, and many others too, at Pink22 – Pink Elephant’s 25th Annual International Conference & Exhibition – where he is a featured speaker.
If you’re a manager, how do you keep up with the demands placed on your team while creating a stress-free work atmosphere? Today, the business climate is ever changing. People are under more pressure than ever to perform and, as a result, knowing how to manage stress and anxiety in the workplace are must-have leadership skills.
Do you know the cost of stress and anxiety in the workplace?
In their book, Elton and Gostick note that in America “workplace anxiety is estimated to cost some $40 billion a year in lost productivity, errors, and health-care costs, while stress is estimated to cost more than $300 billion. …in Europe, the total costs of mental health problems are estimated at more than 600 billion euros annually, with anxiety being the most common issue.”
The book and Chester’s conference presentations (yes – we are very excited that he is presenting more than one session!) will show how everyone at all levels can work together to build an environment that fosters camaraderie, productivity, and calm. The recommendations and guidance are based on detailed research. The authors tap into their experience working with the leadership teams of some of the world’s most successful organizations to offer effective strategies that can help managers make any workplace better.
Want to learn more?
- Read Adrian Gostick’s Interview in a featured business article in the Financial Post that profiles big ideas with big thinkers. In it, he discusses his book and anxiety in the workplace, with a focus on how bosses can spot the duck syndrome and other signs of worker anxiety.
- Read Inc. magazine’s feature, “If You're Doing These Four Things to Reduce Anxiety at Work, You're a Better Leader than You Think.” In this article, the writer profiles four of the book’s eight strategies.
- Listen to Adrian and Chester’s podcast series where they offer insights and advice to reduce anxiety at work and in your personal life. In this practical podcast series, some of the world’s leading authorities on mental health explore the causes of workplace stress and anxiety and the practices that have been proven to reduce tension and cultivate calm.
- Attend Pink22 where Chester Elton will present multiple sessions based on his world-renowned books, including the one featured in this blog.
Pink22 Early Bird Offer – 8 Weeks to Go!
Reserve (at no cost) your spot for Pink22, the 25th Annual International IT Service Management Conference and Exhibition and, until October 29, take advantage of our no-risk money-back guarantee – available for the first time, ever.
Save up to $800 by getting three or four FREE hotel room nights (depending on your pass) with our money-back guarantee. Read all the details by clicking here.
There is so much more waiting for you at Pink22 during our special silver jubilee event!
More on Pink22:
- Pink22 Spotlight: Leadership and Organizational Culture Guru Chester Elton
- IT Leadership Alert! Pink22 Offers Expert Guidance Specific to IT Leaders
- Pink22 Profile: Take a Quantum Leap into the Future of IT with Dr. Shohini Ghose
- Pink22 Spotlight: Keynote Ben Nemtin’s Five Steps to Make the Impossible Possible
- Pink22 Spotlight: Former Navy Commander and Leadership/Teamwork Expert Michael Abrashoff
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