Let's talk ducks.

Ever heard of duck syndrome??

If you’re an ambitious leader, in an ambitious organization, leading an ambitious team, then the concept likely isn’t foreign.?

Exhibit A: One of my ducks called me today. (Changing the name to protect the innocent, let’s call him Dave and say he’s a producer at Door No. 3.)

Dave wanted me to know that the effortless gliding I see above the water's edge is a bit of an illusion. There’s a flurry of paddling happening beneath the surface. Almost too much for his webbed feet to handle.

So I slipped on my snorkel and dropped down to take a look. He was right. Despite the sunny skies and calm waters up top, there was an insane amount of splashing underneath. And the current was strong. And the tide was rolling in. I might have even seen a tiger shark lurking but that’s unconfirmed as my snorkel was starting to fog and I was beginning to experience thalassophobia.

We’ve all experienced duck syndrome ourselves - the illusion of having it all together as we struggle beneath the surface. But how do you know if a member of your team is dealing with this??

Here are a few signs to look for:

• Decreased resilience - Remember Weeble Wobbles? A resilient team member tips but can’t fall down. A frantic duck starts to sink.
• Mistakes? - Like not caching the typo in this sentence.?
• Disengagement - Backing down with no fight is never a good sign.
• Language shifts - Speaking in absolutes. “We never.” “I can’t.” “You always.”
• Higher sensitivity to feedback - Defensiveness or anger in reaction to constructive feedback.?

If you suspect a team member is experiencing duck syndrome, ask questions. But not run-of-the-mill questions like “How are you doing?” Aim for questions that elicit more of a response.?

Can you share your rose and thorn for the week?

If you could wave a magic wand and make one aspect of your job go away, what would it be?

Is there anything I can do to support you right now, in this very moment??

Today’s phone call with Dave was a good reminder that, as leaders, we must stay on top of the tide tables. We must keep our snorkel within arm's length and be willing to drop below the surface. And most importantly, we must always, always give a duck about our people.