Don’t Ignore Problems

A lot of us really try to steer clear of those uncomfortable moments, arguments, and tense situations. When we have a rough patch with someone or feel like one is brewing, our instinct is to just dodge it.

At work, it’s pretty simple to dodge real problems by sticking to the usual professional niceties. We put on a smile and chat nicely with everyone, but underneath, we might be brewing some serious resentment towards those we haven’t sorted things out with.

Leaders can fall into this trap as well, focusing only on superficial issues to maintain control. This can really backfire, since ignoring the deeper problems often leads to cynicism and disengagement among employees. Plus, the more leaders try to gloss over the truth, the less their team trusts their leadership.

Don’t Put Your Head In The Sand

Silly imaginary aside, the Ostrich Effect, a concept introduced by organizational psychologist Bill Kahn, PhD, refers to how minor issues between people can spiral into serious problems due to avoidance. The term is inspired by the myth that ostriches hide their heads in the sand to escape danger. Ironically, those who engage in the Ostrich Effect end up putting themselves at greater risk, as they tend to downplay the challenges they encounter, making it harder to deal with situations when things go south.

The Ostrich Effect as explained in Psychology Today:

A lot of us don’t really pay attention to eye contact, but getting it just right is super important, according to Carol Kinsey Goman, who wrote The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help – or Hurt How You Lead. Here are three reasons she gives for nailing it:

	Everyone faces tough moments together, whether it’s a disagreement, a little misunderstanding, or just an awkward situation.
	People are feeling a bit anxious about what went down.
	They steer clear of facing what’s bothering them because they really don’t enjoy that feeling.
	Instead, they latch onto a distraction that helps them channel the feelings triggered by the original situation they’re avoiding.
	A bunch of fake problems pop up that are really just hiding the original issue.
	1. Folks end up tackling the wrong problems, drag others into it, and what might have begun as a minor issue snowballs into a massive headache.

Myth: A common myth is that ostriches bury their heads in the sand, but that’s not true. When they sense danger, these birds actually flatten themselves and tuck their necks down to blend in and avoid being seen.

Take Away: Managers and leaders can definitely talk about tough situations in a way that empowers employees to tackle issues before they spiral out of control. One effective approach is to remind the team of their past successes. For example, pointing out how they overcame a specific challenge before can inspire the changes needed now. Encourage your team to shift their focus from the negatives to the positives they’ve achieved in the past. This creates a solid base for everyone to tackle the challenges ahead.