Employee Survival Guide® - Why Employees Can't React With Fear At Work.

Episode Date: December 15, 2021

In this episode of the Employee Survival Guide, Mark explores the issue of fear in the workplace and how employees can quickly identify fear and how to get around it using an easy to adopt skill or trick.  Once employees are aware of fear and overcome it, they can quickly take advantage of workplace situations.  Listen to the Employee Survival Guide podcast latest episode here  https://capclaw.com/employee-survival-guide-podcast/If you enjoyed this episode of the Employee Survival Guide please like us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  We would really appreciate if you could leave a review of this podcast on your favorite podcast player such as Apple Podcasts.For more information, please contact Carey & Associates, P.C. at 475-242-8317, www.capclaw.com.The content of this website is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice nor create an attorney-client relationship.  Carey & Associates, P.C. makes no warranty, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of the information contained on this website or to any website to which it is linked to.If you enjoyed this episode of the Employee Survival Guide please like us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. We would really appreciate if you could leave a review of this podcast on your favorite podcast player such as Apple Podcasts. Leaving a review will inform other listeners you found the content on this podcast is important in the area of employment law in the United States. For more information, please contact our employment attorneys at Carey & Associates, P.C. at 203-255-4150, www.capclaw.com.

Hey, it's Mark Carey here, and welcome to the next edition of the Employee Survival Guide, where we tell you what your employer does not want you to know about and more. In this week's episode, we're talking about the subject of why employees can't react with fear at work. The instant you react in fear to any negative and adverse workplace event, you have lost the game. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Yoda. The moment you experience fear in the workplace, pause and just smile. The physical movement of your facial muscles when smiling will cause your brain to stop thinking of self-defense and start to calm you down.

Cause your brain to stop thinking of self-defense and start to calm you down. Then breathe deeply and slowly. Your opponent will look at you quizzically and wonder what the joke is or whether she said something funny. Okay, now you're back to center and can think with a cool head. This is what I did a few years ago when my case was called for oral argument during a court of appeals case. The trick really does work. Fear happens to all of us. It is a natural human emotion, and the emotion should be recognized for what it's worth, to protect you.

Then put fear in its proper perspective on the sideline and behind you. You have choices about fear, and only you can decide which path to take. Would you rather take the map route that is longer by several hours, or a short five-minute trip to your destination? Fear acts like a weight on your forward momentum, and the ballast must be removed immediately, whatever you sense it. But maybe you are having trouble releasing fear, even though you've heard this advice before. Fear is just an idea or a thought generated in your brain in reaction to an adverse event. If you can feel and think fear, you can also forget it just as fast. But how? Well, the pause mentioned above is the start of the process. And then the second step is to tell yourself, even write it down, that the very present thought of fear can easily be replaced by

the thought you are not in fear. You can unthink the thought of fear, and it takes practice. You're going to stumble a few times, but eventually you will harness control over fear. You are going to stumble a few times, but eventually you will harness control over fear. Be patient. Say to yourself, fear is just a thought. I do not believe in fear. When you are confronted with an uncomfortable situation at work, try to be present and hunt for the first sign of fear and then squash it. As the work situation grows worse, obviously escalate your intention to reduce

and eliminate fear. Doing this will immediately help you find a calmer approach and prevent you from saying something you will regret or that will further add negative value to the situation. When you get over the hump of fear, your intentions will quickly shift to how you can leverage this work situation to your advantage. This positive momentum will enhance your feelings of self-worth and confidence. Your fellow employees and managers will instantly pick up on this vibe and give you the runway to listen to your position or argument, even though they are still acting adverse to you. This is how successful employees and executives handle fear at work. Yes, it may

sound simple, but this is the trick you must keep in your tool chest while working. If you keep applying this technique, you may be promoted and eventually become a great leader. If you would like further information about dealing with fear at work, stay tuned to this employee survival guide law podcast. We'll be publishing a series of upcoming podcast episodes discussing fear in the workplace and how you can successfully handle fear while facing specific work situations.

As always, if you need more information about this topic, please contact our office on the web at capclaw.com. Have a great week. Talk to you soon.