Everyone is afraid of something. The list of common phobias is long and varied, claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), arachnophobia (spiders), agoraphobia (fear of not being able to escape), acrophobia (heights). We'll stop there lest we start giving you ideas of things to fear. If you're a small business owner your list of fears is probably longer than most. You have to worry about keeping your business profitable, keeping your employees and your customers happy, and countless other minute details.
Sometimes that fear can really give you pause. If you start to dwell on all the things that could go wrong in any given situation it can be almost impossible to make a decision. Whether it's adding a new product line, changing suppliers, updating your software or some other business change it can be very stressful. Of course, you can always read our blog for tips to help you make those tough decisions, but today we're going to focus on ways to change your perception and power through the fear.
Focus on the first part of what we said there. Perception. Sometimes all you have to do to combat your fear is change the way that you look at it. On a recent vacation my family and I decided to climb to the top of a lighthouse. As soon as we stepped inside and I saw my family begin to ascend that long spiral staircase my fear of heights reared its ugly head. I started to feel queasy and faint and I just knew that I wasn't going to be able to make it to the top. My family continued on without me while I took a moment to catch my breath and center my thoughts. Instead of focusing on how narrow the stairs were or how high they rose I started to think about how sturdy they were, how long they've stood and how many people have climbed them before me. Suddenly it seemed a lot more doable. I didn't set any speed records but I did make it to the top of that lighthouse. Changing my perception of the situation, focusing on different, more positive aspects allowed me to overcome my fear. You can apply the same principles to business decisions.
- Look at the positives. What are the good things that could come from the change you're considering making? Don't ignore the possible negatives but don't dwell on them either. Consider the positives first.
- Seek a safety net. Knowing that you have a safety net in case things go wrong can make facing your fears easier. When the stakes aren't so high it makes the risks more manageable. It's not always possible to put fallback plans in place, but look for ways to implement this strategy whenever possible.
- Know the enemy. What exactly is it that scares you about the change you're considering? This is the time to get specific. You may just be afraid of change in general, but it's more likely that there is a particular element of the change that is more worrisome to you. Identify that and you'll be able to address it. In some cases you may find that the element of concern actually leads you to select a different solution.
- Rely on others. Think back to when you were young. Remember how everything was always less frightening when you were with friends? If you're particularly concerned about a decision you're facing get input from others. You can ask other business owners, your employees, or anyone knowledgable about your market space. Not only will their input make you feel better about your decision, in some cases it may actually help you make a better decision.
Fear will hold you back if you let it. Being afraid to make changes can lead to stagnation and end up derailing the success of your business. Don't let that happen to you.
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