What Is FOPO & How Does It Hinder Professional Growth ?

Are you afraid of what other people think of whatever you do ? This can relate to your job search, your career progression, a crucial decision in life,etc. The term “FOPO” was introduced by performance psychologist, Michael Gervais which stands for “Fear Of People’s Opinions”. FOPO refers to the feeling of anxiety about what others think of you and how they view your actions.

You may have come across multiple instances where you have seen leaders are reluctant to share their ideas because they are worried about the opinions of others. That’s the result of FOPO. Disapproval from their team members is a serious concern for our team members.

According to Gervais, FOPO happens because the human mind fears social rejection. Moreover, humans have been trained to seek validation and fit in with other people since ancient times. One other reason is insecurity. FOPO can be a reason for insecurity too. However, insecurity creeps in when someone is not certain about something. The uncertainty triggers insecurity.

As leaders, it's always recommended that the team member struggling with insecurity should be supported. The root cause to the uncertainty should be explored and figured out. What FOPO does is that it doesn't let managers to take leadership roles, voice their opinions, play safe, avoid taking risks and ultimately stagnates their professional growth.

Here are few signs of FOPO;

1. Some of the most common signs to check whether one has FOPO are:

2. Frequent and unnecessary apologizing at the workplace

3. Hesitation to stand up for yourself in the workplace

4. Avoiding the spotlight or being at the forefront

5. Indecisiveness.

Focusing on things you can control, embracing failure and building confidence by assessing your strengths and weaknesses.

Therefore, anyone can overcome FOPO if they put in effort to focus on the goals quite sharply.

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Wish You Success !

Sasanka Dias