By Dennis Powell, e-Management
Always do what you are afraid to do. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” Clearly, fear is so powerful that there is no shortage of inspirational words to curb the impact of this emotion. But what is fear and how do we take control of it in our lives at work, at home, and beyond? According to Wikipedia, “fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat.” So in order for there to be fear, there must be a perceived threat present.
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. How has the presence of fear affected your personal or professional life?
A few days ago I had lunch with a friend who told me about the politics in her office. It seemed as if the political maneuvering at her job was motivated by people who didn’t see a future for themselves at her organization. There was a perceived threat that their worth had to be apparent otherwise people would be pushed out of positions or jobs.
Out of our conversation during lunch came the idea that “relevance is the antidote to fear.” Essentially, people who are the most fearful in the workplace are sometimes the most insecure. They feel or even know that they aren’t giving the best to advance the goals of the organization. Sometimes they are afraid of new staff who may have outstanding professional experience. Other times, fear is driven by alienation, the inability to connect with other staff. Some people are fearful because they are more senior and fear new ideas from newer or younger staff.
How do you destroy fear and become relevant in the workplace?
1. Adjust attitude…Everyone loves a team player and even more people love fun, approachable people. If you have a reputation of having a poor attitude, you may be less effective in your role because no one wants to work with you and some may actually want to see you fail. This environment promotes fear, anxiety, and stress. Dr. Joan Marques says that people who genuinely have good attitudes oftentimes get support from their colleagues when they least expect it. Knowing that kindness may lead to your colleagues having “your back” may lead to less anxiety and success at the work place. Good nugget take away: Having a winning personality and attitude will make you relevant!
2. Market experience (even when it’s not specific to job title)…In an article written by David DeJean (“Baby Boomer: How to Stay Relevant”) offers a few tips for Baby Boomers who want to be relevant in an information economy. I believe the tips outlined by DeJean are essential for everyone. One of the tips is to use your experience to your advantage. If you have experience in organizing events, feel free to step-up and help with the office picnic or holiday party. You will show your commitment to team building and your value add. Good nugget take away: Showcasing your life or professional experiences to advance your organization’s goals will make you relevant!
3. Invest in self…, vice president, Global Learning & Leadership Center at Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, recently spoke during e-Management’s annual leadership conference for managers and directors. She advised that everyone should add a credential or skill to her/his resume to reinforce self as well as to add value to one’s career. For instance, if you are a project manager, think about getting your PMP® certification or taking continuing education courses to learn about other best practices in your field. Good nugget take away: Becoming more marketable in your field will make you relevant!
More, more, more
The three tips above are commonsense ways to becoming more relevant. Are there more ways? Absolutely, and we want to hear from you. (1) How has the presence of fear affected your personal or professional life? (2) What are your tips of becoming relevant? (3) How do you deal with workplace politics?
