How to break cycle of dependency

Employers are constantly looking out for independent employees, people who are able to deliver results with minimal or no supervision. Unfortunately, most people are hopelessly dependent and cannot live up to this expectation.

Dependent people come in many ways and forms. There are those who don’t know anything and keep consulting on every issue; they will simply not show any initiative to learn and grasp matters, preferring instead to ride on the backs of others.

Grossly incompetent

Others feign ignorance, not out of a lack of knowledge, but to avoid taking responsibility. They would rather maintain the messenger role than risk taking on serious matters.

Others are simply afraid to make any mistakes. They would rather do nothing than try and fail.

These kinds of people end up being grossly incompetent in their job and are a huge burden to their workmates and the entire organisation.

But what causes dependency? The origins can be as diverse as the individuals involved.

There are those that pick the habit from their upbringing. In such cases, overbearing parents and guardians can unknowingly instil this aversion to mistakes that plays on later in life.

Professional incompetence can also create dependency, especially if the knowledge gap between an operator and supervisor is high. On the other hand, overbearing bosses can create this attitude among staff through inappropriate supervision and delegation.

In other cases, dependency can arise from an unsupportive work culture that discourages staff from taking the initiative. In such cases, employees would rather sit back and take instructions than make decisions and face undesirable consequences.

Ruined career

It does not matter the cause or the form, dependency is a vice that should be dealt with before it ruins your career.

To start with, you need to decide if you are ready to build a career. If you are, then you must accept the  tasks that come with this decision; you cannot build a career without taking on risk and responsibility.

If you are new in a job, frequent consultations are acceptable. However, you must work on developing the necessary skills and competencies to achieve independence as fast as practically possible.

If you are mistake averse, deal with it soon, and if necessary, consult a professional career coach for help.

Ensure your professional skills are up to the standard required at all times. Strive to keep yourself updated on the happenings in your profession.

And if the organisation is not supportive in creating independence, strive to see your career beyond the current job to disassociate yourself from the dependency cycle. 

Develop skills and attitudes for the market, and not just for your current employer.

Positive attitude

Associate with the right friends and maintain a positive attitude at all times. This way, you can avoid getting poisoned by bitter colleagues at work.

Remember it is only when you have achieved independence that you can fit in today’s fast-paced, team-based work environment. The ideal is to attain inter-dependence, where independent team members interact seamlessly to achieve maximum output from the team and organisation.

The writer is a human resource specialist with Peoplelink Consultants. Email: goretti@peoplelink.co.ke