The Workplace Impact of Fear During Changing Times
People will often quickly agree that their workplace is affected by changing times. Times, they are changing, yet what is really happening in your workplace?
Do people fear change? Largely, yes, many people are very nervous and afraid of the impact of change on their job. Everything from promotion to demotion to the possibility of being terminated.
Fear can cause action, that is an absolute. Fear as a tactic to motivate people is usually not a good idea.
Changing Times
The less people understand about change, the more likely they are to fear it. Out of fear they may suggest there are ulterior motives. Yet perhaps, they just don’t want to face the truth.
Clumped together in a group, people may feel more power to slow down the change and shift it to a different direction. The presenting factor is that the change is a bad idea, the truth may be that they fear what is proposed to happen.
A mindset of, hide in numbers, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few is their anchor.
Those who are responsible for the change have a different view. They may look for resistors. Spot them. Ask questions. Get them talking.
In this manner the resistors become known, they’re spotted, and a designated action or reaction can occur.
It is the silent resistors that are the most troublesome. They cause fear for the change leaders. The change leaders wonder, “Who doesn’t agree with this change and what do they plan to do about it?”
Truth in Change
Perhaps if there was more truth, more transparency, and more concern about the impact on human capital our workplaces wouldn’t be so harshly impacted.
People are not just a tool. They are an investment.
In a World of constant change, the status quo may carry the most risk. Protect your investment by allowing change to happen for you, not to you.
Be honest.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
