The article explores the concept of learned helplessness, which describes a condition where individuals stop trying to change their circumstances after repeated failures. This mindset can persist in workplace settings, leading to disengagement and a lack of agency among team members. The narrative compares this phenomenon to an elephant that no longer attempts to escape after learning that its efforts are futile. To combat learned helplessness, leaders should promote autonomy, encourage shared decision-making, and ensure psychological safety through transparent communication, thereby reversing disengagement and empowering their teams.
A loss of agency-feeling that someone lacks control over their environment or that they lack the ability to make decisions and act independently- hinders performance and hurts the overall workplace culture.
Psychological safety and transparent communication are critical to reversing disengagement.
Leaders can rebuild agency through autonomy, shared decisions, and role alignment.
Disempowered teams often stop trying-not from laziness, but from repeated failed effort.
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