Urge to Avoid Uncertainty

There is a strong urge to avoid uncertainty among people. Sayings such as "better the devil you know....." are common to many cultures. It is even evident in many languages where the same word is used for "stranger" and "enemy" – anything that is different is a potential threat.

This urge to conform is a survival reflex which is hard-wired into the brain. Anything different or new is potentially dangerous until it has been tried and found to be safe and eventually becomes familiar.

This instinct is behind the public shock and outrage when a child is molested by a friend or relative - it is worse than being molested by a stranger because the child should have been able to rely on protection from a familiar person.

When this is applied in a work environment it means that there is an inherent resistance to change in most people. The usual response to any change is to see it as a threat, and there may well be some resistance to what may seem the most beneficial change. Somebody may feel directly threatened and mobilize resistance to it. One should never expect immediate complete acceptance of any change. Employees are “unwilling to rock the boat” and many are unwilling to be perceived as exceptional in any way, as their fellow workers might feel threatened and become antagonistic. It is simpler to “go with the flow.” Anything “out of the comfort zone” will be resisted.

There are certain groups where being exceptional is more accepted, such as with executives or salespeople but even here a strong ethic of culture of conformity coupled with this natural tendency can work to stifle initiative. If management is uncomfortable with superior performance from their subordinates this will be indicated in some manner to the staff and any exceptional people will either conform or move out of the company to a position such talent would be appreciated. Such discomfort need tot be overt – subtle hints will be noticed and workmates will be quick to warn the person concerned.

When something as basic as a survival instinct is in question, it is wise never to underrate its potential influence. Anybody fighting to preserve the status quo has an innate advantage over someone seeking radical change. Who knows what the consequences could be?