Making a Mistake on the Job

In an Accountemps survey, more than one in four (28 percent) respondents said making a mistake on the job is their biggest workplace fear.

The survey was developed by Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 420 working adults 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
 

 

Workers were asked, “Which one of the following is your greatest workplace fear?” Their responses:

Making errors on the job – 28 percent

Dealing with difficult customers or clients – 18 percent

Conflicts with your manager – 15 percent

Speaking in front of a group of people – 13 percent

Conflicts with coworkers – 13 percent

No fears – 3 percent

Other – 7 percent

Don’t know/no answer – 4 percent

 total is 101 percent due to rounding.

“Mistakes will happen from time to time, and a healthy concern for avoiding them improves job performance — as long as that concern doesn’t undermine one’s confidence,” saysMax Messmer, chairman of Accountemps and author of Managing Your Career For Dummies®. “Fear of failure holds many people back in their careers, but without smart risks new ideas would never take shape.”

Navigating frightening workplace situations requires forethought and the right approach. Accountemps offers five tips:

Plan your route. A 20-page to-do list would scare anyone and is a recipe for mistakes on the job. To ease workload-related worries — and be more efficient — prioritize your responsibilities, and delegate when possible.

Ask for directions. When facing a challenging project or new responsibilities, make sure you know what is expected of you. If you have concerns, let your manager know, and work with him or her to develop a strategy for overcoming them.

Bring a friend. Don’t be afraid to tap a mentor for advice on a particularly devilish challenge. When preparing a critical project or communication, ask a confidant for his or her feedback.

Say “thanks.” Whether it’s for advice or help with a difficult task, a sincere thank-you can go a long way toward building strong business relationships.

Give out treats. Volunteer to assist overburdened colleagues, and be quick with praise for those who deliver outstanding work. You’ll make people — including yourself — feel good and foster an environment where colleagues help each other on a regular basis.

Source: www.accountemps.com

 

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