Deal with those crippling fears

We all get afraid from time to time, but when certain fears get in the way of progress, address them early. Here are some common fears and what you could do about them.

Fear of being unqualified: Always seek to meet whatever criterion is necessary for where you want to get, but don’t wait to have the qualification before pursuing what you want. Let your ‘unqualified-ness’ push you to excel and demonstrate that what you bring to the table is good enough as you work towards what is needed. Don’t feel you have to have all the answers, but know where to find them.

Fear of external perceptions: Having people have right perceptions about you is important because it influences their preliminary assessment of whether you are trustworthy or not. However, there are always so many layers of judgment others will apply to you, which can be overwhelming. Be your authentic best.

Fear of using the power you have: What could change for the better if you used the power you have? Don’t see power as negative, but as a tool to move things along, to make decisions for good. Don’t forgo an opportunity to initiate positive change by using any power you have.

Fear of speaking up: Speaking up can be risky, but does not have to be confrontational or opinionated. Don’t hesitate to stake your voice on what you believe matters; you could facilitate change no matter how small. Don’t underrate the usefulness of what you might have to say. It might inspire action from others or sow a seed in someone’s mind about what more they could do regarding a particular situation.

Fear that your ideas are not good enough: No idea is ‘born good’. Put your idea out and test it’s ‘worth’ early so you can refine it. Be less focused on whether your idea is good enough and more on how to evolve the idea to bring about the improvement needed.

Now take action: What is your one big fear? Write down one action you will take to begin addressing it.