Managing Fear in the Workplace
Abstract
Quality experts such as W. Edwards Deming advocate the elimination of fear in the workplace so that employees can work effectively toward the aim of the organization/system. The elimination of fear is necessary to create an environment of trust and cooperation, essential ingredients to initiating and sustaining a total quality effort, pursuing continuous improvement, encouraging innovation, and achieving customer delight. The removal of fear should be one of the first of Deming's 14 management obligations that top leaders address because of its impact on other obligations. Unfortunately, there is little guidance in the literature and in training courses to help managers deal with fear in their work environment. Fear is an emotion that can never be completely eliminated. I propose that while fear at work may never be eliminated, it can be managed. I describe the impact that fear has on the individual as well as on the organization, and why fear is a barrier to Total Quality Leadership (TQL) implementation. I also describe events, actions, and behaviors that cause employees to experience fear at work, and examples of the effect of fear in an organizational setting. Finally, I offer alternative strategies that managers can use to manage fear and some partial solutions to this complex organizational phenomenon.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA275472
Entities
People
- J. G. Suarez