The Envelope
As an ex tennis coach, I'm now enjoying the game more than ever, and investing time and effort in receiving regular lessons in the belief that theres still more improvement left in me! I love the way a technical suggestion increases my power; and combined with control in the mental side, I'm finidng that my forehand and serve are becoming bigger weapons.
Mainly this is about looseness and rotation - that allows my body to produce a chain reaction that delivers power to the ball. The challenge is to stay loose when during the 'big points', and as a part of this to be aware of the subtle muscular, mindset and technical signs that I may be tensing up. I think of this as somewhat like the 'envelope' that pilots talk about - an envelope of stability within which the plane flies well. In sport I think two of the key parameters are looseness and aggression. If we're not loose enough, our muscles are grossly inefficient, but if we're not aggresive enough, then there's not enough positive intent, not enough fight, and looseness on its own is likely to be somewhat aimless and passive. Thge results so far have been broadly positive, with some disappointments and dips on the way. Watch this space.
The same also holds true in organisations - the need to stay calm enough to keep mentally resourceful, and in harmony with those around us - but this must also be balanced by the need to be clear about where we are going, and what hurdles we need to overcome. Perhaps in organisations the word is tenacity. And in this time of change, if we can balance tenacity and calm resolve, we will keep delivering the goods.
