Work making us paranoid12/20/2023 ![]() Why don’t you ask Charlotte if she saw you running to the lift this morning? What if you asked Ryan why he was laughing during the meeting? Asking for explanations-without an accusatory tone- often helps clarify a situation. Perhaps he received a funny email, remembered a joke that a colleague told him at the water cooler, or saw someone outside slip on a banana peel. Before jumping to conclusions, why not ask yourself if Ryan laughs because he thinks you are the smartest and wittiest person in the room? Regardless of whether it’s true, there could be countless explanations for his laughter. If you suspect Ryan thinks you’re a farce, every muffled laugh or raised eyebrow will seem the ultimate testimony of his deep-seated animosity towards you. The principle of “confirmation bias” is the natural tendency to look for all the elements that prove your intuition correct. However, the evidence isn’t always accurate. If you need evidence to back up a preconceived notion, you won’t have to look very far. Ask yourself, ‘What if the opposite were true?’ Was it the first time? Have you seen other signs to suggest she has something against you? Before jumping to conclusions, try and understand if the observed fact is of any real significance, or if you are simply giving it too much weight. Okay, so Charlotte didn’t stop the lift from closing when you got to work this morning. Start questioning the real significance of facts The simple act of journaling your paranoia can free you from the power it holds over you. Putting paranoid thoughts down on paper enables you to recognise the frequency and nature of this feeling. To change a certain behaviour, you must first understand and assess that behaviour rationally. Lea McLeod, founder of The Job Success Lab, shares her tips on how to keep a firm grasp of reality. While extreme paranoia at work often fosters a climate of fear and stress, a healthy dose of suspicion helps companies spot potential-and sometimes genuine-threats to the business. Paranoia ranges from everyday due diligence to out-and-out pathology. It’s a vicious circle that is hard to break. This further confirms their fear of rejection. By constantly seeking reassurance when they are worried, or by trying to convince others that their fears are justified, they end up annoying and irritating colleagues. A study conducted at the London Business School shows that paranoid people are unwitting targets when it comes to rejection. Similarly, those who are raised with a scant supply of kindness and trust find it harder to draw upon these strengths once they enter the workforce.īeing suspicious of colleagues prevents you from fitting in and building relationships that are a vital part of finding work satisfaction. That said, those who are easily stressed out or who lack self-confidence find it more challenging to deal with such emotions. It’s fertile ground for paranoiaĮveryone struggles with paranoid feelings because the fear of being excluded and unloved is part of being human. Suspicion, backstabbing and rampant ambition can give rise to paranoid thoughts-and all the behaviours that accompany them. Given that most companies are highly competitive, anyone joining the race is likely to imagine that others are trying to overtake them. The work environment is a competitive place A toxic work culture can leave you feeling vulnerable, so it’s no wonder many people come to question the behaviour of new colleagues. These experiences tend to stick with us, which makes it difficult to build trust going forward. Toxic experiences tend to stick aroundĪt some point in their career, everyone will have to face at least one tough situation, whether it’s a tyrannical boss, malevolent colleagues or getting the sack. While some of us may be naturally predisposed to paranoia, organisations often struggle to deal with general employee anxiety. It is full of people, each with their own background, issues and ambitions, exchanging ideas and working closely together. Does the workplace really make us paranoid?
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