TeneoTalent

Getting Unstuck from the Glue Called Fear

July 27, 2011


When surveying those in career transition the main thing most people say they want is flexibility, and their biggest obstacle is confidence. What erodes most people’s confidence is not a lack of skill, education, talent or determination. It is fear causing the lack of confidence.

Three Common Fears and How You Can Overcome Them

Move past fear to find your success.

1. Fear of Failure
We build comfort zones around what we feel is our likelihood of succeeding,
“The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure.” Eriksson

 

Help yourself, and leave your comfort zone one step at a time.

•Try something new that really doesn’t matter if you fail. Try a cooking class or a golf game with a friend when you haven’t golfed in 10 years. Who cares if you lose…you might fail, but you probably will have fun doing it.

•Build up to things that might cost you if you fail and ask yourself,   “What’s the worst thing that can happen?”  You lose some money, you disappoint a friend, you don’t get the job….Hey – you’re still alive. Unless of course you tried sky diving and failed to open your chute.

•Change your perspective on failure – Take that next step out of your comfort zone. Just one more step is all it might take!
“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” Napoleon Hill

2. Fear of the Unknown
Most people have a need to be in control. This gives a false perception that they can keep themselves safe, secure and successful. Venturing into the unknown means that they will have to take a calculated risk and let go of their control.

•The opposite of fear is freedom –letting go of control and moving into the unknown gives us freedom. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

•Many people don’t like change and will resist it. Why? They are afraid of the unknown. Many tell themselves “worst case scenario” stories that they make up in their head and eventually believe as truth.

•Knowledge is Power–learn all you can about the unknown. Informational interviews are a great way to demystify a particular job that you don’t know much about. Educate yourself in the area you feel is “unknown”.

•Calculate your risk. Do your research and turn some of the unknowns into projections and probabilities based on truth not made up stories in your head. The risks are usually not as bad as you think

3. Fear of Rejection
We all want to be liked and accepted. Our egos want to be stroked. People stay stuck for years because they don’t want to take a chance of being rejected.

•Lick your wounds and keep going. We have all experienced rejection – from the playground to the workplace. It’s not a pleasant feeling that we intentionally subject ourselves to. Every opportunity we have to avoid the possibility of being rejected we usually take it. Most of us need a kick in the butt. It’s ok to acknowledge your wounds of rejection, but then move on. We need to get over ourselves and get out of our own way.

•Keep moving. When you stop taking steps forward you lose your momentum. You might stop your steps because a loved one doesn’t approve of your choices. You might stop because your idea was rejected. You might stop pursuing your dream because of one interview you didn’t get and you took it as a personal rejection. Don’t let rejection stop you or you will stay stuck. Just keep moving. After all, it takes more energy to stop then it does to keep moving.

When the fear of staying stuck is greater then the fear of moving forward you are ready to conquer your fears.

You will no longer be bound by the fear of:
Failure
The Unknown
Rejection

Most of all – Don’t be fearful of your success. MaryAnn Williamson said what has become one of my favorite quotes– “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?”

photo by: martapiqs

http://TeneoTalent.com offers a new process of sales recruiting that uses sales assessments for both employers and job seekers to create long term fits.  We also offer career development tools through our sales career coaching program, including resume writing. We offer career advice, career matching and although our organization has a national focus, and have many Denver and Boulder sales jobs available at the moment.

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