Fear in Business

A game-changer either way.

We’ve all heard the sobering stat; most people fear public speaking more than actually dying. But delivering a keynote to the graduating class at Stanford isn’t going to come anytime soon for most of us. Neither is the end of life…I hope. In between those earth-moving momentous occasions are daily occurrences that offer incremental impact opportunities on our successes or failures.

From where I’m standing, it’s fear that drives us back into mediocrity and fruitless decision making. Conversely, it’s lack of fear that catapults us into greatness and unexpected bliss. But we tend only to recognize it when it slaps us in the face, not when it sits in the back of the room quietly manipulating our otherwise uneventful day.

Fear is overloading your pitch decks with explanatory words because you might miss something that could hit.

Fear is reading off the screen when you know the information like the back of your hand.

Fear is constantly checking page views.

Fear is solving people problems with procedural checklists.

Fear is micro managing.

Fear is stock photography.

Fear is hanging with your colleagues and friends at that networking event.

Fear is buzz words.

Fear is a blue shirt and red tie.

Fear is jumping to fill the awkward silence.

Fear is waiting for permission.