In this fast-paced world, the working environment can be extremely stressful especially when you’re on tight deadlines and when you have multiple commanding demands from your superiors. So, how do you handle these difficult times at work while still maintaining a high-standard at work?
While some of you are trying the best you can to get the job done within the targeted date and even burn the midnight oil, there are some individuals that opt for the easy way out while working. Although some shortcuts are relatively harmless, others can have a big impact on your work which could result in unfavourable consequences.
If you’re someone who typically chooses the latter, here’re some dangerous consequences that comes along with it.
#1 Affecting your reputation
In workplace, impressing your boss may feel like an attempt to hit a moving target especially when you’re hoping for a promotion or a pay raise, but with the right approach such as completing the given task or even pitching in great ideas during meetings, this will definitely make you stand out.
While it is a good thing to want to impress your boss, committing to deadlines you know you cannot finish isn’t going to help you make a positive impression at all. Once you’ve committed to a deadline, you’ll have to meet it at all costs. In order to complete these tasks and earn some respect from your boss, you may end up taking shortcuts in order to complete your tasks.
However, these actions of yours, may negatively affect your reputation at work and it could also affect your job tremendously.
#2 Disastrous consequences
Shortcuts are generally derived from laziness and in an attempt to complete a job with minimal efforts required. This creates the opportunity for negative and severe consequences to develop.
One of the disastrous consequences of taking a simpler approach in completing a job has been proven by a study that was done in 2014 on The Deepwater Horizon explosion. According to ResearchGate, the explosion and destruction of Deepwater Horizon (DH) was a result of a large man-made disastrous incident due to a range of operational behaviours and underlying safety management problems that were a causal to the disaster.
So, never take shortcuts because it could lead to a disastrous ending.
“It will never happen to me”
Don’t tempt yourself by the thought of completing your tasks or projects within a shorter period of time by taking simpler approaches that you assume wouldn’t cause any harm. However, you should never predict the fact that everything would end up fine for just this one time if you decide to ignore the rules and regulations while carrying out a certain task, especially when your job involves a lot of safety measures.
Every rule and safety manual set up by your company are there for a reason. It is for you to avoid potential hazards and harm due to ignorance.
Safety shortcuts
The decision to take a shortcut is a choice that people choose to take that was influenced by many factors such as laziness, tiredness and the inability to say ‘no’ which could force you in having to take a shorter route to complete your tasks. However, taking shortcuts when it comes to safety especially if your job requires you to be in an unsafe or dangerous working environment could lead to an unpleasant end.
Some common types of safety shortcuts that occurs in many workplace includes:
- Not following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) at work.
- Not wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while working.
- Rushing to complete a task that requires a lot of time and concentration.
- Deliberately ignoring the safety rules because you know what you’re doing.
- Employers are not aware of the available resources that will give them a clear understanding about their obligations on how to keep everyone including themself safe from any hazardous situations.
How to avoid taking shortcuts?
- Do not take the easy way out. Instead take the time and energy to perform your task right.
- Help others understand that shortcuts aren’t acceptable especially when it comes to safety.
- If you’re on a tight deadline, speak to your boss and explain your situation. Then, come up with an agreement on how you can complete the given task correctly.
- Pre-plan your work, necessary equipments or tools ahead of time so that you would not panic at the last moment and opt for the easy way out.
Sources: Psychology Today, Safety Talk Ideas.com, ResearchGate
