Follow Your Fear

We've all faced it: whether we're working on a new project, presenting our new idea, or sharpening a skill, there comes a point where doubt creeps in. We worry that what we’re working on isn’t good enough, that our assumptions aren’t right or even worse, that people will laugh and shame us for even trying. 

You’ve encountered fear. 

Most of our lives, we hear that fear is something to be avoided. We’re told: “avoid danger!”, "Conform to norms!”,  “Don’t hug that wild bear!” Only one of those three is good advice.

Fear tells us we are entering the unknown…It can indicate that we are moving out of our comfort zone and into something new.

Here are some tactics to follow our fear towards awesome new opportunities: 

DISTINGUISH FEAR FROM PANIC

Let's be real. No one loves being in a state of fear. We're not suggesting you be in terrifying situations that cause you to live with anxiety for the rest of your life.

Look for opportunities to dip your toe in: identify moments that make you nervous in a good way. Think of these as stretch moments that get you out of your comfort zone and can spur new patterns of thinking.

Be cautious of pushing too quickly! Moving from slight fear to outright panic will guarantee you’re less likely to step out of your comfort zone in the future.

LET GO OF PERFECTION

Perfect is the enemy of good. Voltaire nailed that saying hundreds of years ago. For a more modern one, Ira Glass puts it this way "your taste is why your work disappoints you." 

Many of us want to do great things. We dream of being experts but jump over the small improvements that are needed to get there.

While we try to be perfect, and we have excellent taste, we need to gift ourselves time to be vulnerable and open to feedback, criticism and advice. How we implement it is up to us.

OVERLY COMMUNICATE

Let people know your needs and personal expectations.

When showing someone something new or seeking feedback, we often let the other person dictate their response terms. This isn’t very helpful. Be forthright when communicating with others.

Tell trusted feedback sources the kind of support you need as you navigate the fear of trying something new.

CELEBRATE LEARNING

Across the corporate landscape, we're told to celebrate failures. But this is easier said than done. Why? Few of us love failing. We have a fragile thing called an ‘ego’ that gets in the way.

A more proactive approach is celebrating learning.

By focusing on learning from the start, we give ourselves space for a journey rather than just a destination. By celebrating measurable wins along the way, we break up daunting goals into smaller tasks, leading us to accomplish big things.

References:

Ira Glass on Storytelling, “The Gap,” Current TV, 2009 (Youtube)

Hayton, J. & Cacciotti, G. (2018). “How Fear Helps (and Hurts) Entrepreneurs.” Harvard Business Review.