Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when they feel responsible for stopping every problem before it happens?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Spread risk ownership across the system.

What this can look like

One person may carry responsibility for every possible failure in a shared system.

Why it can happen

If one employee feels responsible for preventing every problem, the process may lack clear controls, authority or support. Identify what belongs to the role, the team and leadership.

What might help

Clarify ownership, escalation and review responsibilities across the team.

What the research helps explain

Research and public guidance describe perfectionism and overcontrol by their impact on finishing, flexibility, relationships and quality of life. In a workplace, clear standards, proportionate quality controls and fair management are useful without deciding whether an employee has OCD, OCPD, anxiety or another experience.

What can vary

The same behaviour can have different meanings in different work contexts. Do not diagnose employees, request private medical information or make support conditional on disclosure. Focus on task demands, impact and a workable agreement.

For this situation

For you, fix the system gap rather than relying on one person’s anxiety or effort.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.