Fear at work comes in six flavours, claims CNBC. Read on for a taster of each type. It turns out that there might not be so much to be scared of after all…
- Fear of change and uncertainty
Change is an inevitable part of working life. If you don’t embrace it, you risk being left behind. Proactively find out about upcoming changes and their wider context to reduce your fear. Be flexible and willing. Framing your thoughts and words on the subject in positivity is helpful for your own personal mindset and that of your colleagues. Who knows, your willingness to adapt may just earn you a promotion further down the line. It will certainly boost morale within your team in the meantime.
- Fear of isolation
Being left to your own devices with little or no support from your seniors can be terrifying. You can puncture that anxiety by taking small steps every day to build trust and strong relationships with your colleagues. Play for the team and communicate frequently with them.
- Fear of confrontation
Many of us do everything we can to avoid hostile interactions with others. But sometimes confrontation is necessary to resolve problems. So stay calm, be prepared about the points that you want to make and the outcome you seek, and address only the areas that deserve your time and attention. Update your strategy based on the results you get. And keep your exchanges respectful and courteous at all times. If things get too heated, take a break and fix a time to revisit things later with a cooler head.
- Fear of rejection
In our lifetimes, we’re going to hear ‘no’ more often than ‘yes’. And if we don’t keep on chipping away at things – trying to win over that important prospect or aiming for a specific turnover – we stagnate. So be confident and keep asking questions and making proposals. Try and view rejection as a necessary step of your journey to success. And remember, many rejections are only temporary so keep going! Good luck!
- Fear of losing control
Research shows that the need to stay in the driving seat with our projects often stems from the fear of losing control. Accept that certain variables are beyond your control and refocus your valuable time and energy on things that you have the power to influence.
- Fear of failure
Big, meaningful goals take time to achieve. And you may experience more than a few setbacks before getting there. Accept so-called failures as part of the journey, and use them as learning points. Correct your route constantly, in a spirit of experimentation, and avoid making the same mistake again. You’ll get there!
Whatever the flavour of your personal workplace fear, ABL, your trusted recruitment partner, wishes you all the best in your quest to recognize and conquer it. Good luck!
