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

Scientists from the University of Florida found that employees who feel powerless at work can overcome their passive state simply by reframing their situation - seeing it as an opportunity rather than a limitation. The work was published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes (OBHDP).

People who lack influence in a team are less likely to show initiative. As a result, they get caught in a vicious cycle: lack of action prevents them from gaining more power and authority, which in turn intensifies their feeling of helplessness.

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

Researchers proposed a simple but effective technique - cognitive reappraisal. The essence is to consciously perceive the situation not as a limitation, but as an opportunity. This approach activates the so-called Behavioral Approach System, which is responsible for goal pursuit, initiative, and seeking opportunities.

In three experiments, including negotiation simulations and real work conditions, participants who used this reframing strategy showed significantly more proactivity than those who did not use it.

"The feeling of powerlessness can push toward inaction - but this is just a gentle nudge, not a fatal sentence," says Foulk. "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."