Most of us talk a good game of wanting to climb the corporate ladder and assume leadership roles.\u00a0 We discuss education, skill sets, and career strategies to achieve our goals.\u00a0 For most of us our strategies never seem to achieve our objectives.\u00a0 In many cases we choose too narrow of a career path to follow.\u00a0 When I first started working my goal was to get my boss\u2019s job when he moved on. \u00a0He was still there when I moved on. \u00a0Way back then, the America corporate policy was to promote from within with established career paths. \u00a0Do a good job, keep your nose clean, and wait your turn.\u00a0 It was easy to see your opportunities; it was almost like you were always in training for your next job.\u00a0 Those days are pretty much gone.<\/p>\n
Today most people change jobs every few years.\u00a0 Except for the government there are few places that have career paths from entry level to senior executive.\u00a0 Even the government is changing by filling more middle and senior positions with new hires. The GM model of a job for life is crumbling fast as more and more jobs disappear or are outsourced offshore. In this shifting job market, flexibility and a willingness to take some risks are essential.<\/p>\n
Two of the major barriers to career advancement are fear of failure and, more surprisingly, fear of success.\u00a0 Most of us are familiar with fear of failure, but often we do not recognize our fear of success.\u00a0 In many respects the effects of fear of failure and fear of success are similar.\u00a0 Both are crippling to career advancement by stopping us from recognizing and accepting opportunities.\u00a0 The differences between fear of failure and fear of success are the underlying reasons of our fear.\u00a0 Fear of failure is mainly the result of judging ourselves against our own setbacks.\u00a0\u00a0 Usually we can rationalize our shortcomings, but when we fail at something where we really prepared and tried hard it seems to leave an indelible recurring mark in out minds.\u00a0 The next time we are challenged, our subconscious seems to search its database for all those negative experiences.\u00a0 Instead of using those experiences constructively to avoid repeating them, they sabotage out efforts. \u00a0Soon we are finding excuses to avoid challenges.\u00a0 Often our subconscious is helped along by friends and foes who constantly remind us of our shortcomings.\u00a0 Remember the last time\u2026?<\/p>\n
Fear of success is more fear of the unknown. Most of us reach a comfort level in our daily lives, and while we may not be satisfied we have adjusted and rationalized to where there is a certain security.\u00a0 We can do our jobs and get along at work.\u00a0 Although we want to advance, when an opportunity arises our protective subconscious springs into action filling our minds with all the traps and snares of advancing our careers.\u00a0 I will have too learn all new skills, the new staff will not support me, the hours will be too long, there is too much responsibility, and the list goes on. Once again our friends and foes fill us with negative information.<\/p>\n
All these negatives drown the positives in a sweeping tsunami that washes away our desires and goals for the time it takes to let the opportunity pass by.\u00a0 Often, once the window of opportunity is closed, all the negative mountains become molehills, and we decide we should have applied ourselves, but the next time the scenario repeats.\u00a0 I have passed up countless opportunities.\u00a0 In hindsight, it was the fear of success more than the fear of failure that held me back. The fear of the unknown, and the suggestions planted by others can be powerful. \u00a0However, when held to the hard light of reality, they quickly fade away.\u00a0 There is probably no way to eliminate our fear, nor do I think we should.\u00a0 Instead we should come to recognize our fears for what they are, and not let them hold us back.\u00a0 When someone asks you if you would like to work on a new project, take a new position, move jobs, etc, say yes and then think it over.\u00a0 You can always say no later, but the converse is rarely an option.<\/p>\n
Fear of success quiz to measure your fear level, give it a try.<\/p>\n