Overcoming Fear to Move Forward

As a child, I remember watching classic horror movies on Creature Features, such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Werewolf. And I don’t remember being truly frightened in a movie until I saw Halloween. And what is impressive is that I can still remember the film and that feeling over forty years later. And have no desire to see the latest Halloween movie. Fear has a way of imprinting itself in you and preventing you from acting.

When fear prevents you from taking the necessary steps to build your career or book of business, it is not serving you well.

Here are three tips to help you overcome that fear:

Tip 1: Acknowledge the Fear

To overcome fear, you must first acknowledge that it is unfounded fear and does not further your goals. It is also helpful to evaluate the fear circumstances. Does it arise when you are doing something new or something you have yet to conquer? Or does the fear come up under certain circumstances, like dealing with a particular individual?

It helps some people do a physical act to “tell” those fears that they do not control them. Those people write down their fears and either cross them out or tear up the paper.

Tip 2: Coach Yourself

In the coaching spirit, first, ask yourself a series of questions:

• What realistically will happen?
• What is the worst that could happen? Could I survive it? How likely is it?
• What is the best that could happen? Would I or others benefit from it?
• What are the downsides to doing nothing?
• What is holding me back?
• What would I ask or say to someone grappling with this situation?

By asking these questions, you begin to place the fear in context, look at the issue more objectively, and overcome that which is holding you back.

If you struggle with coaching yourself, you can pair up with a friend or mentor to ask the questions.

Tip 3: Prepare Yourself And Act

Reflect on what you have accomplished, which is extremely powerful, especially when trying to overcome self-doubt or fear. Reflection reminds us that we’re capable of what we want to achieve. Learning from past successes fortifies our resolve and reminds us we can achieve more than we may believe in the current moment.

Having the right people in your network makes a tremendous difference in taking steps to move forward. Surround yourselves with supportive people who make you feel good. This network can build you up and encourage you when you struggle to motivate yourself.

You also want to have a plan to act. If you fear something, the more you prepare, the more confident you will be and more likely to succeed. My clients who have done this have been more successful when facing their fears and propelling themselves forward. But it is crucial to not fall into the trap of looking for zero risk and perfection - which do not exist.

When you act, celebrate the fact that you overcame your fears. Whether the outcome is precisely what you wanted or not, take a moment to see what you learned through the process. By doing this, you will create positive momentum.

By choosing yourself over fear, you will step into your own power and design the career and life you want.

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Want more insights?

Check out Sheila's 10 TIPS FOR IN-HOUSE COUNSEL STRUGGLING TO ADVANCE. This guide shares time-tested tips for in-house counsel to release fear, jump-start your career, and propel you towards promotion.