It happens to all leaders at one time or another during our professional lives. We are sailing along smoothly growing our leadership toolbox and feeling at the top of our game. Team collaborations are not only respectful but also highly productive with deliverables we are so very proud of. We have developed our own credibility and built deep, respectful relationships. Then an incident occurs, or our situation is totally toppled due to a department consolidation or a senior leadership change. Right then and there we begin to sense the sweat across our bodies as well as our stomachs beginning to churn.
There it is. That sinking feeling of anxiety and fear.
Fear of the unknown.
Fear of not being able to solve a huge challenge.
Fear that we are not capable.
Fear that things will never be the same.
Here are six empowering moves for leaders to face fear:
1. Label The Fear
When leaders are feeling fearful the best first move is to identify what they are feeling and label it. A helpful process begins with taking a few deep breaths and stepping into a calm space. Then write out what is going on. The key here is to be truthful with yourself. For example, one leader I worked with was afraid that they would not be able to learn the new skills necessary for their new role. Another leader was worried about adjusting to their new manager’s work style, which was very different from their previous boss. Just describe what may be causing you fear and give it a name- label it.
The first step in leading through fear is attaching a label to your feelings. Click To Tweet2. Unpack Its Origin
The next move to help leaders understand their fear is to take a deep look at its origins. Some empowering questions to ask may be:
- Where did this fear come from?
- When did I first notice being afraid of this?
- How often does this anxiety come up and in what places?
- What triggers this fear?
3. Identify Past Strategies That Worked
Leaders know intuitively that they learn best from lessons they learned along the way. Reflect on a time that you faced a similar fear and think about how you were able to overcome it. Maybe you practiced a mindfulness exercise or simply confronted the situation or person directly. Perhaps you rejiggered a process that ultimately led to a more successful conclusion. Revisit the past actions in dealing with the fear.
4. Consult A Trusted Colleague
For many leaders, facing a fearful challenge alone is way too upsetting and would rather turn to others for advice. Nothing wrong with that and in fact a very wise move if we turn to trusted advisers. In choosing the right confidant some things to think about are:
- Who has the expertise to guide me through this?
- Which person knows my abilities and strengths?
- Who has also faced a similar fear and can relate to me?
5. Design A Plan To Destroy It
The best move for leaders to face their fear is by putting into action a plan of how they will squash down their anxiety and uncertainties. By creating a path forward and knowing what they need to do will empower leaders when they recognize the fear coming towards them. Maybe they will use past successes or reach out to people they trust. Just know there are resources available to lower the edginess of fear.
6. Add Fear-Fighting Moves To Your Leadership Toolbox
The ultimate move to fight fear is building up a leadership toolbox with tons of backup and strategies. Heading off a fear before it gets into our head can be as simple as stepping back and breathing for a bit. Learning to reframe the fear as an opportunity can be powerful too. Just keep loading up moves to face fear straight on and build them into your leadership journey.
What moves have empowered you to be a stronger leader during times of fear?