Regardless of what you hear, fear is a powerful motivator. God gives us the ability to detect danger and respond accordingly. The same is true in leadership. While many leaders try to portray themselves as fearless, they are mere mortals with fears common to us all. And, what we fear most can ultimately begin to rule us. Here are 6 of the most common fears leaders face.
1. Loss of Control
Leaders like control. Period. That’s not necessarily a bad thing unless the control is more for the benefit of the leader rather than to advance the mission. Would you want to go into surgery wondering if the surgeon has control of the room?! But when leaders hoard control and fear losing it, it can often result in bad outcomes. I remember hearing of a leader who told his team, “This is my meeting and my organization!” Which translates to, “I am fearful of losing my control.”
2. Irrelevance
If you watch any great athletic event such as the Olympics or Superbowl, they always show or interview the celebrities of the past. It can’t be easy knowing that they were once the stars that everyone wanted to know, and now many from the next generation do not even know (or care) who they are. It is this type of irrelevance that can create a lot of fear in leaders, especially as they get older. The fear of “no one really cares about what I think.”
3. Getting Older
Ok, I confess that I am getting annoyed with my body increasingly not listening to my instructions. Every time I look up my new symptoms on WebMD (I really shouldn’t do this, I know), it tells me that smoking, drinking, and being overweight can contribute to the problem I am experiencing. But I don’t drink. I don’t smoke. And I am not overweight. The real problem is that I am getting older and my body doesn’t act as I wish. And it is likely yours doesn’t either – even if you are not “old.” Getting older is both a state of body and of mind, and if we are not careful, it can dominate our thoughts and our leadership.
4. Failure
The fear of failure is similar to the fear of losing control but with its own complexities. Whether you are 25 or 55, fear of failing can be an all-consuming preoccupation. It can influence us to not take risks without a backup security plan. And when there is a failure, a leader’s fear may cause him or her to blame others rather than to own it. While fear can be a valuable ally to a leader, serving as a warning system of potential danger, it can also cause a leader to play it safe, sit on the sidelines, and coast.
5. Not Getting the Credit
Have you ever sat in a meeting and watched someone else get some or all of the credit for an idea that you generated? Your inner voice starts to say, “Are you going to let them get away with that? Speak up! Tell them it was YOU.” This is called fear of not getting the credit. It is real. It is common. And it is human. After all, there is nothing wrong with wanting credit for something you did or created. That’s why we have trademark and copyright laws. But who gets the credit should always be subservient to is the mission being advanced.
6. Someone Better or Smarter
Everyone has competed in either sports, academics, or career. You finally arrive at a place on the team or a position in the company, and you are feeling good. Confident. Successful. That is until HE or SHE shows up. That person who is a little (or a lot) better or smarter than you. It’s common and often creates insecurity and fear that you may lose your place. The compliments and commendations you once received diminish and the other person is now the recipient. That reaction you start to get in your brain when this happens – it’s called fear.
3 Things to Focus on When Facing Our Fear
So, what can we do? While fear is normal, it does not serve us well if it dominates our thoughts and becomes the driving force behind most of our actions. There will always be someone better, faster, smarter, or even younger right behind you. So rather than focusing on that, focus on these three things to help you face your fear.
First, it’s important to remind yourself that you are not alone in your fear. While this does not take it away, it does remove the added pressure of feeling like you are the only one who experiences it.
Second, remember that your worth and value are not determined by position or stature. No one remains at the top forever. Star athletes will eventually lose. Star academics will eventually fade away. Star leaders will eventually become less relevant.
Third, focus on staying sharp and serving others well. If your primary motive is stature and success, you will always be looking over your shoulder. If your primary motive is adding value and serving others to the best of your ability, you will reduce fear and increase your influence in the lives of others.
Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can assist you in learning to identify and face your leadership fears.
Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
