Fear Creates Procrastination

Monday, September 24, 2007 - By: Linda Talley

When fear is present in the workplace, it can suck the life out of your business! With employees, it makes them less demanding, less willing to implement change, less willing to try/evaluate new options. In fact, fear eliminates options and sometimes causes people to compromise their core values. Don’t let fear into your business. Make certain you keep your employees informed with daily and weekly meetings. Don’t let them hear things on the company grapevine or from a friend or in the newspaper because if they do, fear sets in! Here are some things to talk about with staff:

• Tell them what’s happening with the company/store, their job, their life. (Fear of unknown). People can also experience fear when they say: “What if I do it and I don’t want it?”

• What they must be doing now (Fear of not being in control). People can also experience fear when they say: “If I do it, maybe I’ll lose my power/lose face.”

• What is expected of them in the job & how to do it (Fear of being inadequate). People can also experience it when they say: “If I do it, it may not be perfect.”

• Change is good and necessary (Fear of moving out of comfort zone). People may also experience fear when they say: “I always put things off, why change?”

Communicate regularly with staff and help them handle their fears. You’ll feel better, you’ll improve your morale, productivity and decrease turn-over.

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