Overcoming Fear at Work - The Muse

Overcoming Fear at Work - The MuseOvercoming Fear at Work Your job can sometimes feel like walking on eggshells. You dont want to do or say the wrong thing, so you hold back- and dont do or say much of anything. But succumbing to that fear can seriously impact your career success. By playing it safe, you miss out on opportunities to grow, hone your skills, and do your job more efficiently.So, its time to face your fears- starting with these five common situations that you shouldnt be afraid of at work.1. Taking the Initiative to Schedule One-on-One Meetings With Your baboMany employees assume that since the boss is in charge, its his or her job to schedule all the meetings- especially a one-on-one meeting with an employee. Managers tend to have busy schedules, and many employees dont want to risk impeding on their time, leid aya if their boss considers a meeting with them a priority. If your boss doesnt take it upon him- or herself to schedule a recurring one-on-one meeting with you, though, you should take the initiative to request one. These meetings can be incredibly helpful to your career advancement and success in your individual position within the department. An individual meeting gives you the chance to ask for advice about tricky situations or assignments, talk through challenges, request feedback about your performance, and more. (Also, most bosses will accept the meeting invite without question.)2. Making a Phone Call Instead of EmailingEmail has become the standard in most offices. From quick questions to intricate requests, almost everything is communicated electronically. Email simply seems less intrusive and gives recipients more time to really think through an answer, rather than putting them on the spot. Its the way most people communicate, and you dont want to break that mold. But relying solely on email isnt always efficient, and it certainly isnt always the right option. When you pick up the phone, you can often get the answer to a quick que stion in a fraction of the time or a better understanding of an intricate concept- one that would have been next to impossible to summarize in an email. It doesnt have to be your go-to method of communication- but you shouldnt hesitate to switch it up. 3. Turning in Something Youre Not 100% Sure AboutWhen I started in my first communications position, I was terrified to turn anything in to my boss- because I assumed that if it wasnt perfect, it would prove that I didnt deserve the role. It would take me weeks of editing and re-editing to finally turn it in, and even then, I wasnt confident about the final product. But eventually, my boss helped me learn that sometimes, its best to get something on paper, then let him take a look. Hed provide his guidance and let me know sooner rather than later if I needed to do anything differently (or, alternatively, if I was on the right track all along). Im not saying you should turn in sub-par work. But if youre feeling stuck with a certain ass ignment, dont put off showing it to your boss. He or she will usually be glad to point you in the right direction. (Just make sure to do this well before its actually due. Turning in something at the 11th hour with the side note Im really not sure if this right wont help anyone.) 4. Clarifying Assignments With Your BossNo matter what position youre in, its likely you get requests from every direction- sometimes from your boss, sometimes from your co-workers, and sometimes from other departments. Eager to please, new employees will often jump on these assignments without question. Its a fear of saying no mixed with the question of whether theyre even allowed to decline a request. Failing to evaluate these outside assignments, however, can lead to wasted time and a focus on the wrong priorities. For example, just last week, one of my co-workers jumped on an urgent assignment she received from another department and spent the entire day scrambling to finish it. When my boss found out a bout the project later that evening, he revealed that if hed known about it, he wouldnt have had her work on it at all. It simply wasnt a priority for our department. So, when you receive requests from people other than your boss- especially if they dont seem to jive with your usual work- its OK to bring it to your boss to make sure its something you should actually be working on. 5. Asking for FeedbackFeedback makes people nervous. Its the fear of the unknown- asking that open-ended question (How do you think my presentation went?), not knowing whether your boss will pat you on the back or give a disapproving shake of his or her head. You may get praise, but you also may get flat-out criticism. But keep in mind Without feedback, youre not going to get better. Without knowing how you can improve, you simply wont. Youll continue to do things the way you always have. Feedback can be uncomfortable, but its not something to be scared of. Its something to value- because its key to moving up in your career. Here are a few tips for taking it seriously, not personally.If youre not already doing these things, what are you afraid of? Incorporating these things into your career will help you do your job better- and might just be the key to your next promotion. Photo of woman at desk courtesy of Shutterstock.