Personal Risk Management Assessment

Personal Risk Management Assessment

Risk is often inevitable in the workplace. While interacting in the work environment, employees, staff, and even executives encounter various risky situations. However, when analyzed effectively, such risks can turn into opportunities (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). It is essential to understand how to effectively interact and communicate to promote a productive and satisfying work environment. Through this analysis, I explore personal risks I have encountered in the workplace, how I understand risk management and challenges in communicating risk.

Question 1

I prefer to work in an environment that promotes both individual efforts and teamwork. The environment would allow me to showcase my skill-set and expertise (Waldron & Kassing, 2018, p. 3). All the same, having the ability to work in a team is also important because I would have an opportunity to learn from others and understand new things (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). Whenever I collaborate with colleagues at work, I obtain something valuable. I also enjoy an environment that promotes transparent and open communication. It is an environment that allows employees to have a voice, to contribute their opinions, and share valuable information (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). The environment makes working meaningful because, as an employee, I feel appreciated and valued.

The degree of risk I that I would be exposed to in such an environment is relational risk. Given that I interact with coworkers with different personalities, conflicts often arise. Relational risk would occur when work relationships become tumultuous, leading to disagreements (Waldron & Kassing, 2018, p. 8). I would still be comfortable working with such a risk because it is an opportunity to use conflict management strategies and also learn from one another. Another risk I would be comfortable dealing with is identity risk. Identity risk can occur in a situation where my values, attitudes, beliefs, and expectations are misunderstood (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). For example, an employee may view my quiet demeanor with disdain or perceive me as a proud or rude. I can address such identify risk by learning how to communicate and take the time to explain to my teammates about my personality. The risk I may find challenging to deal with is health risk. For example, if I am gravely ill or a colleague is sick, it can be traumatic.

I believe having the ability to deal with various risks in the workplace would help grow my career. The ability to work in challenging work environments would make it easier for me to work anywhere.

Question 2

My personal risk philosophy is that risk offers me the opportunity to optimize challenging situations into opportunities for growth. For example, if I encounter a situation where an employee is engaging in unethical behavior, I may be conflicted about what to do. However, it is a significant opportunity to use my skills and knowledge to address the issue with confidence. These are skills related to personal ethics while also promoting the values of the organization.

I view risk as a personal responsibility because facing challenges in the workplace is inevitable. However, when faced with problems, the way the individual approaches and communicates the issue matters significantly (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). For instance, if I see an employee being bullied at work, it is essential to use my ethical principles or values to report the matter for the employee. Also, risk management is an organizational responsibility because the organization defines the processes, responsibilities, cultural norms, rewards systems, as well as structures that guide all employees (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). The organizational culture determines how employees respond to various risks. For example, if an organization protects “whistleblowers,” employees would be motivated to report unethical practices. However, if an organization does not have such policies, employees may fail to report for fear of losing their jobs. Risk is also a societal responsibility because it is influenced by cultural and economic forces (Waldron & Kassing, 2018, p. 11). For example, if the society believes a company promotes societal growth, such as by fostering green initiates, it may garner widespread societal support.

Question 3

The risky communication situation that would be most challenging is monitoring organizational romance. Romantic relationships can occur in the workplace because people spend a lot of time together and may find that they have similar interests (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). However, I would find it challenging when it comes to deciding what to do if I discover that co-workers have a romantic relationship against the organization’s policy. I would need certain communication aspects to address the situation. First, I would need to have listening skills so that I can take time to approach and listen to my co-workers. For example, listening will offer me a guide on the best course of action to consider with regard to the information at hand (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). I would also need to use the communication aspect of being open-minded. It is important to deter from shutting down the co-workers but instead try to understand their point of view. This would help me provide counsel as best as possible.

The risky communication situation that I am most skilled in is dealing with difference. Workplace difference provides an opportunity to promote diversity in terms of ethnicity, race, cultural background, language, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and many others (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). I am most skilled in managing difference because I take time to learn as much as possible about other people’s views, perceptions, beliefs, and cultural values. For example, if a new employee joins our organization, I take time to familiarize with the individual’s background and also share my own experiences. It is through this process I gain new positive ideas that the company can incorporate in the organizational culture (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). I find working with people from diverse backgrounds fulfilling because I grew up in China, where we value togetherness and promoting the welfare of our neighbors.

Question 4

I worked with a telecommunications company that dealt directly with customer needs and queries. The company can improve on attending by paying attention to signs of customer dissatisfaction. For example, when sales decline, the company can view this as a sign of an underlying problem. The company then improves sense-making by exploring alternatives or options that can prompt the customers to come back. Once they make sense of the situation, the company transforms the situation with new initiatives (Waldron & Kassing, 2018). For example, effective customer care practices that become enshrined into the company’s policies. Finally, the company can maintain the new prosperous situation by eliminating any potential of recurrence of previous problems and work towards identifying problems before they occur.

Conclusion

Given that risks are inevitable in the workplace, it is essential to plan and prepare for them. This is possible when one understands the different kinds of risks that can occur and how they can be used as an opportunity for growth. However, facing risks and challenges that are not easy to manage is also possible. It requires a person to explore communicative strategies and skills that promote understanding of various effective collaboration strategies in the work environment.

Reference

Waldron, V., & Kassing, J. (2018). Negotiating workplace relationships. San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.