Fear is one of our most important and powerful basic emotions. Without fear, humans are barely able to survive.
Our ancestors would probably all have been killed by the proverbial saber-toothed tiger or other unpleasant creatures if they had not known the feeling of fear. Fear warns us of danger, of which we are often not yet aware, and can prevent us from taking irresponsible or incalculable risks. The „moment of fear“ is the moment in which we decide how to behave in a certain situation. Feelings of fear can be useful because they increase our body’s alertness and ability to react.
Repressing fear, ignoring it, or simply claiming we have none can be more risky than fear itself. Psychology assumes that repressed fears become unconscious triggers for actions that are beyond our control.
It is therefore particularly important for leaders to
👉🏻 become aware of their own fears
👉🏻 deal with their own fears,
👉🏻 not to work against fear, but with fear
A fear-driven leader can often be recognized by the fact that they exert pressure on their employees, withdraw into themselves, exercise excessive control, display an authoritarian management style and at the same time shift responsibility onto others. This may well lead to success in the short term, as employees often react with obedience, driven by fear themselves, and the manager has the impression of having „the store under control“. In the long term, however, a fear-driven management style wears on the team and leads to isolation, because performance is not the answer to pressure.
It is more effective to look fears in the eye and become aware of their originally positive aspects, for example as a „warning function“. Instead of passing on the pressure caused by your fears to others, you can then, for example
🎯 Discuss alternative decisions within the team,
🎯 share responsibility can across several shoulders
🎯 leverage the expertise of your team to achieve common goals.
In the best-case scenario, fear can thus serve to strengthen a culture of mutual trust, open communication, and shared responsibility.