Fear of Rejection at work

[Bighead81]

I have started a new job and I portray myself as a person who is serious, rigid but always nice. This comes down to fear of rejection from work colleagues and not being able to deal with it. This is the funny part (or not so funny) im already being rejected by work colleagues for being serious, rigid but always nice. I hear people talking about how stressed I must be or that im a GIMP. With close friends this is not the case. I know I need to enter this work world or who knows!! How have people overcome a similar situation? Its a daunting task and they seem to a close knit group. They have banter, jokes but Im not witty enough to reply with an answer and feel the fear inside that stops me from answering at all - which they think is child like!!. I have spoken to individual from time to time and they seem ok but as a group it seems they are against me and It makes me dread work and makes me feel isolated combined with the belief I may not overcome makes it feel like a mountain.

 

[jaim38]

This is probably my #1 fear in the work world. I mean, if your colleagues don't like you, how will you be able to work with them? Gone are the silo jobs of the past. It's a lot of teamwork these days. It's good to be serious and nice, but not sure what you meant by being rigid (inflexible? stiff?). Being too rigid might work against you. It might not be enough to be nice and serious. Perhaps you should be helpful too?

I'm not witty either, can't come up with good responses to jokes or banter, but so are many people. Does everyone at work have to be witty? I don't think so.

 

[dottie]

Sounds like the typical corporate workplace. The corporate environment is no different than an animal cage which brings out the primitive alpha behavior of the pack animals which are caged together. You might look for a different line of work in an environment you are more comfortable with.