For the past two years, that answer for many of us has been: “A lot!”
For this reason, your Team and Workplace Excellence Forum is rallying around a common theme this year: driving fear out of the workplace.
We can’t do our best work or be our best selves if we’re afraid. From Dr Deming forward, quality professionals have recognized that a major obstacle to quality improvement is fear: fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of ourselves or our friends losing their livelihoods, fear of losing control.
Join with us in helping to make 2022 The Year Without Fear. As a rather fearless president once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
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I am afraid of commenting on this. I understand the lengthy statement about fear at work place. However, we need a clarity on what you expect here. Do you need to know our opinion on actions need to be taken in relation to driving the fear out of the workplace, or our experience in relation to fear at workplace or should we wait for more clarity.
Fear in the workplace would be a great start—-a problem properly-defined is a problem half-solved, right?
Maybe a couple more - If you work in a toxic workplace, fear of being undermined or sabotaged (if you want to delve into the rich topic of human behavior and psychology). With the very rapid pace of change, fear of being able to keep up with it all and ahead of competitors.
These are all excellent, Susan.
I’ve been afraid of:
- failure
- being backstabbed
- getting fired
- becoming irrelevant
- not fitting in
- being asked to compromise my integrity
- disappointing people
- appearing arrogant
- making mistakes
I was never at my best during these fearful periods. At some point, I had to consciously decide to put my fears aside and do what I do. I still resent the people who made me feel that way.
I love it! Sadly, I’ve had a lot of experience trying to drive fear out of a workplace. Bottom line result is I am now fearless. It really boils down to how much confidence you have in yourself and your ability to not only just survive, but thrive, regardless of circumstances. Change? No sweat. Unknown? Bring it on. Losing a job? I’m ready. Losing control? Will never happen.
This kind of confidence doesn’t happen overnight. A lot had to happen before I got there. And maybe you’re not there yet. I want you to know that’s okay. It’s all part of life’s journey. The good news is that if you’re reading this, you’re in the right place for help and support.
