Fear of failure and the unknown often hold people back from pursuing the career changes they want or moving on to a new job.
“I recently did a poll on Linkedin asking people what holds them from taking that next step in their career, and over 30% of respondents indicated that it was fear of failure. Over the last few months, many more clients I spoke to said the same and all noted that they wanted to move out of this fear zone,” says Selina Fisher, Career and Leadership Transition Coach and the founder of SelinaNewman Coaching.
Fisher notes that staying in a career, job or work environment out of fear can not only drain your passion, but also have dire long-term consequences on your mental and physical health. It is, therefore, important to take steps to change your career, job or work environment.
“Before you can move out of the fear zone, however, the first step is to admit to yourself that you’re in this zone at all,” Fisher says. “There are three things that my clients usually do when they are in the fear zone: They make excuses that keep them safe from stepping into the unknown. They worry about what others might say if they were to pursue their dream career. They lack self-confidence and use that to keep them stuck in careers or jobs that no longer serve them.”
Fisher notes: “If this sounds like you, then perhaps it’s time to make a few changes.”
Here are three tips that Fisher recommends for getting out of this zone and into a space of learning and growth.
Draw on your experience
Think back to when you started the job you are currently in or when you moved to a new city. Think back on these experiences and ask yourself what you learned and how those experiences can help you now as you navigate your next career transition.
Start with one thing
You don’t need to do everything all at once. It is crucial to recognise that we all have limits. Knowing your limits allows you to work through the fear zone and avoid the panic zone. When you embark on your career change journey, you want to start small. What is one thing you can do today to work towards your career goals? Perhaps it’s simply refreshing your CV or creating a list of companies you want to research for opportunities. You want to feel stretched, not panicked. If you do one thing every day or every few days, soon you will find that you’ve accomplished a heap of things and that you’re closer to your new career than ever before.
Regularly move out of your comfort zone
Don’t wait for significant events to push you out of your comfort zone. You can do small things daily to move you out of your comfort zone and allow your brain to get used to change. Try small changes like a new route to work, joining a dance class instead of your regular pilates class.
“Change is not easy, and yes, it can feel overwhelming. But if you want to feel more passionate about your work, if you want to contribute to your organisation, if you want your work to make a difference, you have to get comfortable with taking uncomfortable steps to create the life and career you want. You can either do this on your own or you could work with a career coach to help you on your journey,” she concludes.
