When you think of a positive work environment, I am sure there are several adjectives and phrases that come to mind. Mentoring, exchange of ideas, creative, challenging, supportive — those are just a few examples that immediately pop into my head.
What are some words you would use to describe a professional atmosphere that is not so motivating or welcoming? I am sure that “fear” just might be one of your possible answers. MSNBC published an article earlier this month that focused on companies that run on fear and how they can be spotted.
The basis for the fear is our still-uncertain economy. Board members are afraid of hearing bad news, they are afraid of losing money, and they are afraid of losing their standing in the business community. They do not want to do anything that might rock the boat or cause further problems.
The article lists ten ways to know that you work in a fear-based environment. Three of the examples include:
Distrust reigns — Co-workers steal ideas from one another and backstabbing is common. The idea of “I win when you lose” could be the office motto.
Management considers lateral communication suspect — Instead of encouraging brainstorming sessions and friendly conversation among your employees, you worry that the casual discussions by the water cooler could be aimed at bringing down the leaders in the organization.
Appearances are everything – Employees want to stay in the office late into the night if that means leaving after the boss, but the quality of work that is produced is irrelevant. It’s all about how you look to those above you who may control your fate.
I recommend you read the entire list and decide if you are fostering, or struggling in, a work environment that is based in fear.
Have you noticed actions in your own office over the past couple of years that indicate fear may be present within those walls?
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Thank you for sharing these key thoughts Joe. Agree with you, a fear-based workplace simply stops progress. Creating a win, win culture takes time and open communication. This is certainly a timely post. Let’s work on driving out these forces.
No doubt that fear is a big factor in the office and in the market in general.
This is a shame, because it clearly distracts from doing work that matters.
Recently heard about an employer that wouldn’t allow their employees to be active on LinkedIn, for fear that they would be picked off and stolen by competitors.
I can’t think of the EXACT OPPOSITE approach to something that will lead to people leaving the organization as fast as they can anyway…
Fear makes you do things that result in what you fear anyways….
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