Stressful workplace situations within small businesses have increased within the 21st century. The leadership styles from the past may not have the flexibility necessary to address it. These stressors are causing health problems, low output, overturn and burn out. The estimated expense to organizations was at $300 billion according to the American Psychological Association (2013). That's a whole lot of money to lose because your staff is stressed.
Stress looks like many things in many organizations and its not going away. However, the side effects do not have to be so costly to small business or any organization for that matter. People come to work with certain ideals, expectations and desires. Within the workplace they will commit the vast majority of their days and their lives. It is important for leadership to understand the need for healthy community where healthy norms are established and people can feel like - believe that what they are doing matters.
Appreciative Intelligence® (AQ) is a construct first discussed by Dr. Tojo Thatchenkery and Carolyn Metzker. Their book "Appreciative Intelligence, Seeing the Mighty Oak in the Acorn," was published in 2006 and is the inspiration behind my research.
AQ has some basic things that have to be in place in order for someone to truly have the mindset. First they are leaders who can reframe situations. This means they have the ability to see the situation in the reality that it is - ITS NEGATIVE! From that perspective they have the ability to reframe it and look for a positive solution. They also have the ability to A) Persistence - through actions and abilities a successful conclusion is possible, B) Conviction that one's actions matter - what is done matters, what isn't done matters, C) Tolerance for uncertainty - what you do might mean taking a risk, going against past norms, looking outside of the box and D) Irrepressible resilience - a confidence that you can overcome! (p.15)
Is this who you are or is this who you want to be? Either way within my research I have found that people are either naturally AQ or can be trained to be!
American Psychological Association. (2013). The impact of stress. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/impact.aspx
Enalls-Fenner, T. (2015). Exploring appreciative intelligence competencies for small business leadership during stressful situations (Order No. 3688863). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (1674844242).
Thatchenkery, T., & Metzker, C. (2006). Appreciative intelligence: Seeing the mighty oak in the acorn. San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler.