November 17, 1978, as a sophomore in high school, several of my friends and I went to see a movie everyone at school was talking about…. John Carpenter’s classic thriller, Halloween. I must be honest; this movie scared the snot out of me. Relying more on suspense and tension rather than blood and guts, Halloween followed the Hitchcock movie formula opening your mind to the fear within yourself rather than having it detailed on the screen. Experiencing the fear and anxiety that a good horror movie provides is kind of fun, but not so much in real life. Fear and anxiety can cause genuine issues in our personal lives and in the workplace. While it’s something we cannot eliminate completely from our lives, we can reduce how it negatively impacts us.
One of the best ways to combat fear and anxiety is by arming yourself with knowledge and striving for preparedness. Whether you work in the community as a DSP, as a DCS supervising a program, as a teacher working with kids at a local school, or if you work in an office understanding and practicing your craft can reduce fear and anxiety. Being prepared for what you could face at work, and in life can alleviate the impact fear has in your life and will help you deal with the anxiety that often follows.
Let’s get down to the nuts and bolts. How can this general idea of “prepare and practice” alleviate your fears and anxiety? Let’s break it down into just a few simple ideas. If you start working on just one of these a few minutes a day, you should see some long-term change.
- Spend time studying your craft. Find someone you admire in your field and listen to their podcasts, read their books, or watch their Ted Talks.
- Spend time honing your skills. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to explore how something works. If another co-worker does something with greater ease than you, ask questions, and observe techniques. If you want to learn more about Excel, watch a YouTube Video. Personally, I’m in a group specifically for HR Managers and Directors. We frequently use each other as sources of information and encouragement.
Set a small goal, commit to a short daily activity, and then review every week to see where you are. “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” is a quote by James Baker, former Secretary of State. It might be just as powerful to say, “Proper Preparation Prevents Fear and Anxiety,” but that’s not as catchy.
–Don Gregory, Director of HR for Myers-Davis (10/28/2025)
