Unreturnable Serve

In the dynamic world of Opportunity City, Jill, the spirited owner of "Creative Waves," found herself at an impasse. Over the past six months, her meetings with the leadership team—consisting of Maria, John, Diane, and Rob—had turned into echo chambers.

Jill would ask for input on significant decisions, but her tendency to override her team's suggestions with her own ideas had created an atmosphere of disengagement. "I hear you, but..." became her unintentional catchphrase. Slowly but surely, the team had started to hold back, disengaging from discussions and not challenging thoughts or premises.

Enter Strategy Coach Jim. After observing Jill's leadership style, he introduced her to the concept of the "Unreturnable Serve." "Jill, it's okay to have non-negotiable decisions. The key is to communicate them clearly as 'Unreturnable Serves.' That way, your team can focus on executing them efficiently rather than debating them endlessly," he advised.

Armed with this new approach, Jill walked into her next team meeting, where a massive project for a big client, Mighty Corp., was on the table. "Team, we've got a pitch to prepare. It's a big fish," she started. "Now, I want to try something different today. This decision is an Unreturnable Serve: We're focusing on storytelling, enriched by data."

The room, accustomed to Jill's old habits, felt a moment of hesitation. But then, it shifted to a sense of focus. Everyone knew what was expected of them. Maria and Diane quickly teamed up to align the narrative with insightful data, empowered to execute without the looming cloud of a potential override.

As weeks rolled by, Jill noticed a seismic shift. Not only did they win the Mighty Corp. account, but her leadership meetings had also evolved. When she genuinely wanted input, she'd state, "This is an idea. I want input, and we'll go with a consensus." The team responded with increased engagement, creativity, and a sense of ownership that hadn't been there before.

Jill leaned back in her office chair, observing her rejuvenated team, and knew she had not only reeled in the big fish but also rejuvenated the ecosystem in which her team swam. Thanks to Coach Jim's timely advice, she had mastered the art of the "Unreturnable Serve," creating a happier, more productive, and more engaged team.