Let’s face it, when it comes to finding or holding onto a job these days, it pays to prepare for the unexpected. When we meet with clients who are in the process of looking for a job, we see a lot of underlying stress about finding a good one but there are other stress factors that happen even after they have found a job.
The fear of being fired ranks as the number one workplace fear for employees.
But it’s not the only one. Many younger people also experience a sense of disappointment when work doesn’t live up to their expectations. Graduates start their career in law or finance expecting a high-flying, glamorous life-style, and end up despondent when they are filling in spreadsheets until 2am.
Here are some of the most common workplace fears:
Working in fear. When you work in a fearful environment, you know it because you feel anxious about going to work. You have aggressive and/or bullying bosses. They might not even be loud. In fact most aggressive bosses are very quiet and able to manipulate people. The problem with a fearful environment is that people stop being creative – it becomes survive instead of thrive.
I’m never going to make it. Most young people come into an organization after graduating from college with very big expectations and soon find themselves disappointed with the day to day drudgery of their first job. They get this underlying fear that life will never live up to their expectations.
Fear of being shouted at. People get into their jobs – for the most part – because they are good at what they do. We see a lot of managers who get promoted but have no clue how to manage people. This can quickly turn into fear because they themselves are afraid of being shouted at – or – they become the bully and use shouting as a way to control people. In both cases they might get immediate results but over time they destroy a sense of self and ruin creativity.
Fear of retaliation. Every organization has its “political” side and can be very detrimental. One of the biggest fears for new hires is not being part of the group. Good organizations help to build those relationships through team building. Yes, some people really hate these two words but it does help build relationships for the newbies and helps them establish a friendly work environment where they feel part of the “cool kids.”
Being seen as a slacker. Unfortunately this has been going on for many years. There are people who are afraid to take a lunch break or even go to the bathroom for fear of being seen as a slacker. Thankfully, there is a new culture taking place within organizations run by young people that recognize the importance of taking breaks and fostering a healthy work schedule.
What are some of your workplace fears? We would love to hear from you in the comments below!
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