No matter what we do in life, fear seems to accompany us everywhere we go. It’s like a little mischievous character sitting on our shoulders, whispering our worst nightmares:
‘You’re not cut out for this.’
‘What if you’re just not as capable as they are?’
Sound familiar?
Although it sometimes makes us feel like we’re the only ones stuck in this isolating place, the truth is, everyone else carries this little liar with them (some are just better at pretending they don’t).
One of the most common fears we experience, believe it or not, is the fear of failure.
Fear of failure, otherwise known as atychiphobia, presents itself in different ways.
Although many think that the worst this fear brings is dizziness and sweaty hands, it does more damage than that.
On an emotional level, the fear of failure can feel like chains around our hands, stopping us from reaching out to new career possibilities. Many people come to believe they’re incapable of achieving their dream goals, sometimes even telling others in advance they’ll fail, just to keep expectations low. This fear can lead someone to pass up a promotion because they feel unworthy, or to turn down wonderful opportunities.
So, what can we do when this fear shows up uninvited in our lives, and how can we stop it?
Develop a Growth Mindset
When we operate from a growth mindset, we begin to view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than a reflection of our worth and abilities. Failure, instead of being something to fear or avoid, becomes a natural part of the learning process.
This concept, introduced by psychologist Carol Dweck, is based on the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed over time with persistence and hard work. In her book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success", Dweck explains how the right approach can have a far greater impact on our success than our inherent abilities.
No matter how terrifying a new opportunity can be, learn to see it as a space for learning and developing your skills. Instead of asking yourself ‘What if I fail?’ start asking yourself ‘What do I learn?’ This simple shift can help you see every experience – whether a success or setback- as a valuable part of your journey.
Embrace the Journey, Not the Destination
It’s natural for humans to focus on the end goal rather than the process in between.
I can’t help but think about my experiences with team sports. During my early school years, all the girls in my class would have PE lessons together, with dodgeball being the game we played most often.
Although the game itself was fun, we almost always ended in conflict over the final score. The team lineup would determine our friend groups for the whole week (teenage girls, I know!). It wasn’t until my grammar school years that I truly learned how enjoyable team sports could be. We played softball, and with the more mature attitudes of the older girls, we began to praise each other’s hits and cheer whenever the ball flew out of the field.
When we focus on results too much, there’s a lot we can miss out on. In sports, you can observe another person’s posture and technique, learning how to improve your own performance. In a relationship, you can work on becoming a good partner, hoping for the best, yet understanding the future is uncertain.
In your career, you can take on a new project, but instead of allowing fear to doubt your abilities, focus on how much knowledge you’ll gain.
Start with Smaller Risks
Stepping out of our comfort zone can be quite challenging, especially when we’ve stayed in one place for too long. The notion of jumping into a new job role and leaving your past one behind can feel like too big of risk.
Why not start small?
What if, rather than completely stepping out of our comfort zone, we simply learned to stretch it?
If there’s a project you want to pursue, start by taking a role with less responsibility. This gives you the chance to gradually build your skills, learn from mistakes, and gain more confidence.
The best thing about these small risks is that, in the end, they help you realize that failure isn’t the terrifying monster it seems to be.
Get Inspired by Them
Steve Jobs, the successful businessman and visionary co-founder of Apple, made a bold decision when he dropped out of college to pursue his creative instincts.
Although this unconventional choice raised many eyebrows, it was precisely this step that brought him closer to his dream of building Apple.
Similarly, former Disney star Bridgit Mendler decided to opt for a different career route than her fellow actors. Rather than pursuing a typical acting career, she enrolled at both MIT and Harvard, eventually becoming the CEO of the satellite data startup Northwood Space.
Had they not stepped out of their comfort zone and faced their fear of failure, we wouldn’t be reading about their inspiring journeys.
Tim Ferriss, bestselling author and investor, believes that it was his fears standing behind his biggest wins. He often writes down a list of all his fears, using them to pinpoint what he needs to confront the most.
Failure, according to Ferriss, is a constant and inevitable force in every success.
He reminds us, “You need to fail, learn how to fail and condition yourself to fail.”
By embracing failure as a learning experience and working towards your goals with a renewed mindset, you can become one of those inspiring people we read about one day.
Whether you’re taking small risks, overcoming fear, or shifting your perspective, you’re already on the right way to overcoming the fear of career failure.
But no matter how ambitious you are and how many aspirations you have, remember to enjoy the journey that leads you to success.
At ELE Hub, we are here to support you with your career and employability. Attend our upcoming event ‘Help for Career Changers’ where you will have the opportunity to ask top experts your questions and connect to practical experience opportunities.
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