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Fear of The "Boss" - The Biggest Obstacle To Career Progression

Guest post by: Terri Levine

Article Overview: We are so quick to blame the Boss for career failure or missed opportunities and while sometimes that may be the case, other times it is our own fault.

Fear of The "Boss" - The Biggest Obstacle To Career Progression

For many workers, their boss is far from their best friend, and many would agree that this is a good thing. It is difficult to manage your staff and give directions and receive due respect if you are great pals with those you are trying to lead. It's not as much of a problem for the worker, however, who often, somewhat unfairly perhaps, receives favors based on their friendship rather than whether or not they deserve them.

In most instances, thinking of being friends with a boss doesn't feel right; the boss isn't someone you go to lunch with or hang around the coffee pot chatting with, or meet up after work to go to the gym with. The boss is the person deciding if you are doing a good job or not and if you will get a raise or promotion or be passed up. When they are smiling at you in the morning, you simply don't know what they're saying about you out of earshot to the HR Manager.

Workers are in fear the boss might lay them off or fire them. The boss seems to be very powerful - in fact, causes huge fear in many employees. That fear has become the biggest obstacle to career progress for thousands of workers.

For most employees, whether or not they get to move up the career ladder and make more money depends entirely on the subjective opinion of their "boss". That is very scary for most workers. Your entire career is in their hands, and what if they don't like you? I have helped hundreds of people overcome their fears and achieve career success, and it is that fear that has employees stuck and afraid to ask for a raise or to go for a promotion and keeping them from the career progress they desire.

Actually, fearless workers who aren't afraid of what their bosses think are the ones who get ahead and do the best. I know you can overcome what I call "boss fright" and the key is to stop worrying about what the boss thinks, and to believe that only YOU have power over your career - when you feel you are in charge, you are.

In reality, in the majority of situations, most bosses respect employees who not only do what is expected of them and then some, but who are strong individuals who are not afraid of them. And looking at it from their perspective, who would you recommend for promotion? The strong, confident employee or the wimp?

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Article Tags: Bosses, careera, employeeboss relationships, fear of the boss



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Other Great Books... - Feel The Fear And Do It AnyWay - Susan Jeffers How To Stop Worrying And Do It Anyway - Dale Carnegie ('What's the worst that could happen - the worst?' Then prepare yourself for that and reality is such a relief!).
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Re: What I'm reading this weekend - Oct 8, 2010 - these are great! In particular, I liked "you’re already perfect" and "Smashing through the Black Wall of Fear." That's exciting that there is a new 4-hour book out. I really enjoyed "The 4 hour Workweek."


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