Success Advice

How Fear Can Help You Increase Work Productivity

Published

9 years ago

Nov 1, 2013

Can fear make people more productive? Some recent studies and research have shown this to be true. Having said that, the method to increase productivity may have some negative side effects if implemented.

Keep reading if you want to know why scaring someone can get them to work harder – and why it might not be the best of ideas.

Can Being Afraid Really Help You Perform Better?

How Fear Increases Work Productivity

Here’s a look at some of the ways that being afraid can make people work harder.

Economy – The biggest reason fear works is because of the state of the economy around the world currently. Many people feel they’re lucky to have a job – any job. Even if they hate going to work, they take this as a part of life and something that must be done.
Other Workers – When people are fired for not working hard enough, it can have a big effect on how hard other people work. Once a culture of fear has invaded a workplace, it can be hard to disperse. And this can have long-lasting negative effects.
Fear of the Unknown – Not having a job in the current employment market can be a scary thing. When people with college degrees and many years of experience are having problems finding a job, people are more loathe to lose the job they have and face the unknown.

fear of the unknown picture quote

Why Productivity Through Fear is Bad

Here’s a look at why this might not be a good thing in the long-term.

Morale – One of the biggest problems with increased production via fear is that it can be very bad for morale. While production may increase, the quality may be missing. When morale of workers is low, it can affect a company’s ability to operate.
Burnout – And when morale becomes too low, burnout is a very real problem. When this happens, productivity can go through the floor – and stay there for a while which can really affect your bottom line.
Negative Image – If a company uses tactics of fear to get their workers to work harder – either overtly or on the sly – word can quickly spread, harming the company’s public image. With the Internet, this bad publicity can spread quickly and have a lasting effect on a brand.

As you can see, even if people are working harder because they are afraid, it might not be the best thing in the world for everyone involved. From the workers themselves – who may face burnout – to the employers – who may have quality control issues – fear can do more harm than good.

What do you think? Do you work harder because you’re afraid of losing your job?

Success Advice

20 Ways You Can Become a Powerful Communicator

Published

5 days ago

Jan 25, 2023

Joel Brown (Founder of Addicted2Success.com)

Some people seem to naturally know how to effectively communicate in a group setting. They can express themselves clearly and listen attentively without dominating the conversation.

Being a powerful communicator is important for several reasons, including building and maintaining relationships, achieving goals, resolving conflicts, improving productivity, leading and influencing others, advancing in your career, expressing yourself more confidently and authentically, and improving your mental and emotional well-being. Effective communication is an essential life skill that can benefit you in all aspects of your life.

But, don’t worry if you don’t naturally possess this skill, as effective communication is something that can be developed with practice, planning and preparation.

1. Listen actively: Practice active listening by giving your full attention to the speaker and responding to what they are saying.

2. Use “I” statements: Speak from your own perspective and avoid placing blame or making accusations.

3. Avoid assumptions: Don’t make assumptions about what the other person is thinking or feeling.

4. Be clear: Express your thoughts and feelings clearly and concisely by getting to the point and avoid using jargon or overly complex language.

5. Show empathy: Show that you understand and care about the other person’s feelings.

6. Offer valuable insights: When speaking in a group, provide a valuable takeaway or actionable item that people can walk away with.

7. Be an active listener: Listen attentively and respond accordingly, incorporating your points into the conversation.

8. Choose the right time: Pick the most opportune time to speak to ensure that you have the group’s attention and can deliver your message without interruption.

9. Be the unifying voice: Step in and unify the group’s thoughts to calm down the discussion and insert your point effectively.

10. Keep responses concise: Keep responses short and to the point to show respect for others’ time.

11. Avoid unnecessary comments: Avoid commenting on everything and only speak when you have something important to say.

12. Cut the fluff: Avoid being long-winded and get straight to the point.

13. Prepare ahead of time: Sort out your points and practice them before speaking in a group.

14. Smile and be positive: Smile and nod along as others speak, to build a positive relationship and be respected when it’s your turn to speak.

15. Take responsibility: Take responsibility for your own actions and feelings.

16. Ask questions: Ask questions to clarify any confusion or misunderstandings.

17. Avoid interrupting: Allow the other person to finish speaking without interruption.

18. Practice active listening: Repeat what the other person said to ensure you have understood correctly.

19. Use your body language too: Use nonverbal cues such as eye contact, facial expressions, and body language to convey your message and build rapport.

20. Be aware of the tone of your voice: it should be calm and assertive, not aggressive or passive.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can improve your communication skills and become a more powerful communicator, which can help you build better relationships, achieve your goals, and lead a more fulfilling life.

I you want to learn how to become more confident in life then you can join my weekly mentorship calls and 40+ online workshops at AweBliss.com so you can master your life with more success.

Success Advice

Dead Men Tell No Tales: How to Navigate a Mutiny as a Leader in 10 Steps

You’re the manager. You’re the supervisor. You’re the leader. But maybe your people don’t see it that way

Published

1 week ago

Jan 22, 2023

Brian Parsons

Image Credit: Unsplash

You’re the manager. You’re the supervisor. You’re the leader. But maybe your people don’t see it that way and perhaps that has created a divisive and adversarial working environment that makes it difficult for you to influence and inspire your team in a way that meets your vision. (more…)

Success Advice

How to Think Like a CEO for Your Future Success

A blueprint for CEOs to draw a disciplined strategy

Published

2 weeks ago

Jan 18, 2023

M.S. Rao

Image Credit: Unsplash

Strategic thinking helps CEOs build successful businesses. It helps them establish everlasting enterprises. It is one of the key elements of decision-making. It is different from strategic leadership. It differentiates between leaders from managers. (more…)

Success Advice

How to Focus Your Mind on Your Goals in 2023 Constructively

In this world of distractions due to information overload, it has become a big challenge to focus our minds

Published

2 weeks ago

Jan 16, 2023

M.S. Rao

Image Credit: Unsplash

In this world of distractions due to information overload, it has become a big challenge to focus our minds on positive aspects and constructive activities. Sometimes we waste our precious time mentally and physically due to distractions arising out of technology. We must understand our priorities and learn how to focus on them religiously. (more…)