Leadership Is Scary, so What?

Estimated reading time: 4 min 15 sec

Last week I wrote about anxiety and anguish in our lives and how these two feelings are misunderstood and confused and can be seen as a weakness that affects us and our ability to, for example, lead.

Fear is one of the causes of anxiety, as we tend to project our fear into situations in the future. It is also a limiting belief for many leaders leading and managing teams right now in this transition from VUCA to BANI World. We have uncertainties about how the current political instability in Europe will end. Economic inflation, economic growth decline, and most stocks being down in most stock exchanges can create the fear of failing. Some leaders choose to stop leading, taking decisions and go into micro-management mode so they can defend themselves against failure.

We know that leadership requires a lot of work. Many people appear to be pillars of certainty and conviction, yet on the inside, they are rife with ambivalence and self-doubt. In reality, some people can only operate while harbouring persistent uncertainties, like a two-sided compass pointing upward. Fear is accompanied by a variety of contradictory emotions and sentiments. Those who dread their leadership role are frequently taken aback by its power and might be seen wallowing in bewilderment.?

Any leader may produce a beneficial result by identifying their anxieties for what they are and recognizing them for what they are. Leaders must identify the areas of their lives that are fraught with worry and dread before they can effectively tackle their fears.

Our natural anxieties have been honed by experience for ultimate survival. To move forward, it is necessary to tackle these anxieties head-on. Otherwise, energy would be wasted like a tire spinning in dirt. Learn to submit to opportunity via presence so that you may direct your attention toward removing one of the trickier but more manageable types of fears: those arising from leadership.?

The Following Are Leaders’ Anxieties Committed to Changing the World Through the Most Commonly Mentioned Risky Endeavours.

Fear of failure or inadequacy:?continuing to assume responsibility and, as a result, committing mistakes with significant repercussions. The brightest, most capable, and most certain leaders dread failure. The challenge is getting over the crushing sensation of loss, whether you start a new project or finish the one you're working on now. You will admit to others that you don't expect to achieve because you are terrified of failing. Lowering expectations stifles creativity.?

Fear of being left behind:?the anxiety of being alone or kicked from the group or organization. The dread of not being liked and being rejected is a subset of this anxiety; for some people, the latter worry can be crushing. If left untreated, rejection anxiety deteriorates over time and slowly takes over every aspect of life. You worry about failing others and alienating those whose opinions you respect.?

Fear of criticism:?is a specific fear that keeps you from achieving the future you want because it concerns what other people think of you. If left unchecked, the fear of others telling you what you can and can't do and what you can and can't achieve can fester quietly and fast.?

Fear of being an imposter or appearing to be someone you're not: the anxiety that people will discover you were not born, trained, or qualified for a leadership position that you have claimed. The "fake it till you make it" philosophy does not apply to everyone.?

Fear or apprehension about making a mistake:?we lose many excellent chances when we stop moving ahead and are scared to make errors along the road.

The first step in overcoming your fear is knowing what it is. Many people don't realize that they have fears. So they don't know where to start or how to get rid of them. It's essential to be aware of what you are afraid of because you can work on getting over it.

You may be ashamed or embarrassed about the things that scare you, but fear doesn't disappear just because you're embarrassed by it! Suppose someone close to us has a phobia and refuses treatment or help from anyone else to not feel like less than a perfect human being. In that case, there will likely be problems for both parties involved and others who would want nothing more than for the happiness of their loved ones rather than living life under constant stress due to their issues.

You can't get over your fear if you are so ashamed that you won't say a word about it to another human being.

Fear is a normal human emotion. It's ok to be afraid. If something scares you, that's fine—it means that what you're afraid of has the potential to harm or even kill you, and that's why it scares us in the first place! If we were never scared of anything, we would not need the self-preservation instinct, the famous "fight or flight" mode.

But here's where things get complicated: Fear isn't just about survival anymore—in fact, sometimes people are afraid even though there isn't any real threat present (or even likely). So how do we know when our fears are rational? How do we differentiate between actual danger and something else entirely? The answer is simple. Talk about them with someone who knows more than us about these things (like a coach or a therapist, depending on the context). Sometimes your fear is limiting beliefs, and ask for help navigating them safely!

The more you talk about it, the less scary it becomes.

The idea of taking risks and doing things that scare us makes us uncomfortable because we don't know what will happen next. We have no control over what happens outside our comfort zone! If you fail at something, your life will go on, so try not to worry too much about falling or looking stupid in front of others (even though this will likely happen at some point). And remember, there's no need for perfection or success. What matters most is taking action and trying new things!

It's essential to acknowledge that fear exists. Nevertheless, it's also important to realize that there's nothing wrong with being afraid of something. Fear is a sign that you are doing something right. You have set yourself up for challenge and growth.

Embrace it!