It’s the witchiest month of the year. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, it’s the time of year when the nights draw in and we have to reacquaint ourselves with the darkness, and all the spooky lore surrounding the unknown.
After all, our fear of the dark is actually just a displaced fear of the unknown, and that more general fear is what underlies many of the fears we carry into adulthood, long after the last night light was retired to your parent’s basement.
As adults, our greatest fears aren’t supernatural, they’re all too real, and the impact that these fears have on our lives is also very real. The more responsibility you carry in life and in business, the more is at stake, and we can let our fears consume us, paralyze us, and prevent us from living and working optimally.
Today we’re going to discuss 3 of the most common fears in business and how to overcome them.
Top 3 Business Fears
1. Fear of change
Our brain is hard-wired to resist change. Part of the pre-frontal cortex (the amygdala) reads change as a threat, and stimulates the fight or flight response – in other words, change is stressful.
But, as we well know, adaptation is crucial for survival. That time-honored phrase “evolve or die” is particularly applicable to business. As the past 18 months have shown us, businesses that fail to shape-shift quickly enough will bite the dust before you can say “a quarantine is lifted”.
Fear of change is fear of the unknown. When we do the same thing over and over, we can reliably predict the outcome. But when we change what we do or how we do it, we bring in an element of uncertainty, however great or small.
So how do we overcome the fear of change? We learn to lean into our discomfort. When your brain triggers a stress response, the first stage is to notice it. Acknowledge that there is discomfort, and make a conscious choice to not give power to that feeling.
When you do venture out of your comfort zone, you’ll most likely realize that change is actually very liberating and beneficial in business. Change can propel your business to new territories, new markets, and new heights. Change can revive your workforce by taking them out of the daily grind and encourage innovative thinking.
Take a chance on change, even if it’s scary.
2. Fear of incompetence
Unless you have a personality disorder, you’ve probably been haunted several times in your life by the thought of not being good enough.
In business, incompetence has a price, it can literally cost your business money , or it can cost you your position. But fear of incompetence can also hold you back.
The way to combat this fear is to realize that everyone has blind spots and gaps in their knowledge and experience. If you’re not sure about something, it’s OK to ask for help or direction from someone who has more knowledge on the subject. The whole consultancy industry exists on the very basis that people need expert advice and direction.
It’s also worth checking with yourself whether your fear of incompetence is valid. Many people feel out of their depth when they start a new role or take on a new responsibility, but it doesn’t mean they’re incapable.
If you truly believe that you lack the skills and knowledge to carry out your duties, take actionable steps to find mentors or resources to help you get clued up, and don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s just part of your journey of growth and development.
3. Fear of rejection
We are social animals with a strong need for belonging and acceptance, so it’s in our nature to fear rejection to some extent. That fear can be worsened by early trauma and prevents countless people from reaching their goals in life and business.
In his motivational TED Talk, Jia Jiang describes a novel way of overcoming this fear: the 100 days of rejection challenge.
Over 100 days, Jiang set himself the challenge to purposefully be rejected once a day, and turn his exploits into a vlog.
After initially feeling extreme anxiety over being rejected or appearing strange, over time, Jiang desensitized himself to the feeling of rejection and even found that people were far more willing to cooperate than he had expected.
Far from a self-torturous exercise in embarrassment, the experience helped him to grow in confidence, led to some interesting conversations and stories, and opened up many doors for him.
As Jiang points out, people that make positive change have historically been met with sometimes violent rejection. If we want to stand for something and make an impact, we have to be prepared to face rejection.
In summary
Fears are often natural human responses, but that doesn’t mean that they’re justified or that we need to be ruled by them. Take control back by facing your fears and taking reasonable steps to help you overcome them.
If after some reflection you still feel unsure about the next steps and big decisions for your business, remember that there’s no shame in asking for expert assistance.
At jdp, we’ll find the best marketing tools to maximize your business’ performance. With decades of business and marketing expertise, you can rest assured that jdp will handcraft the best solution for you.
Don’t let your business fears hold you back, get in touch for your free consultation today.
