While there are a variety of scenarios employees want to avoid in a workplace setting, the action they most want to sidestep is making a move that conflicts with the HR compliance rules set up by the company, a new survey indicates.
According to a recent poll conducted by staffing services firm Accountemps, more than one in every four respondents surveyed said that making a mistake was their biggest fear when at work.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of the self-help book, "Managing Your Career For Dummies," indicated that this kind of anxiety is not uncommon. However, it can be crippling if workers allow it to consume them.
"Mistakes will happen from time to time, and a healthy concern for avoiding them improves job performance – as long as that concern doesn't undermine one's confidence," said Messmer. "Fear of failure holds many people back in their careers, but without smart risks new ideas would never take shape."
Whether through employee benefit services or impromptu one-on-one time, it may be a good idea to address these fears with those who express them. Some may not make their fears known but their job performance suggests they are fearful because they aren't willing to take any risks. Employers should try to be aware of these behaviors..
Accountemps says there are several guidelines business owners may want to implement in their practices so that these fears can be allayed.
One thing at a time
For example, employees often have a lot on their plates. Accomplishing all of them may seem like an unachievable goal. Instead of focusing on the whole, encourage workers to break the task up into pieces, prioritizing the tasks that need to be addressed first and then moving to the next once the initial undertaking has been completed. This may make the endeavour less daunting.
Encourage questions
Something else to make workers mindful of is that they should feel at ease about asking for help if they need it. Some workers may fear that if they go to their superior regarding a question, it will look like they're incompetent. Far better to impress upon them that seeking help if they're confused suggests they want to ensure that the task is completed satisfactorily.
Say 'please,' say 'thank you'
It's also a good idea to remind them of the importance of good manners. Saying "thank you" and being appreciative of help that they get from their co-worker may make that colleague more likely to reach out to them again when they're in need.
