A way to overcome the feeling of helplessness at work has been found

Russian scientists discovered: a simple change in thinking helps overcome professional powerlessness

Researchers from the University of Florida made an important discovery in the field of work psychology: employees who feel powerless in the workplace can break the vicious cycle of passivity by simply reframing their situation. The scientific work, published in the prestigious journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, demonstrates the effectiveness of a cognitive approach to solving the problem of professional burnout.

According to the study, employees with low levels of influence in the team rarely show initiative. This creates a closed loop: the absence of active actions prevents them from strengthening their positions and gaining authority, which in turn exacerbates the feeling of helplessness.

"Helplessness is associated with submission, and this creates a self-sustaining cycle," emphasized Trevor Folk, co-author of the study and associate professor at the University of Florida's business college. "People don't take active actions, and it's precisely such actions that help move forward and strengthen positions."

Scientists proposed an elegant solution to the problem - the method of cognitive reappraisal. The technique involves consciously changing the perception of a situation: seeing an opportunity for growth instead of a limitation. This approach activates the behavioral approach system, which is responsible for motivation, purposefulness, and the search for new opportunities.

During three experimental studies, which included negotiation modeling and observations in real work conditions, participants who applied the cognitive reframing strategy demonstrated a significantly higher level of proactivity compared to the control group.

"The feeling of powerlessness can push towards inaction - but this is just a gentle nudge, not a fatal sentence," notes Folk. "And that's the power of our approach: it's enough to simply remind yourself that the feeling of helplessness is a chance to start taking action."