Fear in the Workplace

When confronted with an unpleasant situation, it is human nature to react with fear. Fearful reactions at work, on the other hand, are not the best situations for employees. Employees must not react with fear at work because when they do, they give their opponent an advantage by boosting their confidence. As a result, Mark explores fear in the workplace on this episode from the Employee Survival Guide podcast, which can be found on Google Podcasts, and how to get around it using a simple skill or trick.

The podcast episode starts with a discussion about how fear is just the beginning of a chain of events that leads to anger and hatred. Fear not only gives your opponent an advantage by boosting their confidence, but it also confirms that you made a mistake, even if you did not. As a result, Mark recommends pausing and simply smiling whenever you experience fear at work. When you smile, the physical movement of your facial muscles causes your brain to stop thinking about self-defense and can greatly relax you. One of the many reasons why employees experience fear in the workplace is that it causes them to lose confidence and, in some cases, takes away opportunities to stand out. Mark then suggests inhaling slowly and deeply. According to him, this will make your opponent look at you quizzically and wonder if they said something funny. This gives you some time to regain your composure and then think clearly. Fear is a natural human emotion that affects us all, and emotions should be valued for what they are. Mark believes that when it comes to fear, you have options, and it is up to you to choose which path you want to take. Most people find it difficult to  let go of their fears. Fear, he claims, is simply a thought or idea generated in your brain in response to a negative event. It’s just as easy to feel and think fear as it is to forget it. When employees react with fear at work, they face a series of challenges. After taking a deep breath, Mark recommends replacing the thought of being afraid with the thought of not being afraid. This idea is certain to work, even if it takes some practice. When you are at work and in an uncomfortable situation, look for the first sign of fear and squash it. As the situation at work worsens, do everything you can to eliminate the possibility of fear. This will immediately assist you in finding a common approach and prevent you from saying something you will later regret or that will add negative value to the situation.

When faced with a difficult situation, your first priority should be to use it to your advantage, avoiding the temptation to say something that will add negative value to the situation out of fear. This is one of the primary reasons why employees experience fear in the workplace. However, Mark’s trick, which he discusses in this podcast episode, is the most widely used and effective method for dealing with fear at work.