| Many people wish they were more creative. They | | | | people ask a more rhetorical question - "what |
| yearn for the big idea (or even the small one) and | | | | might happen?" but they don't really answer it. |
| think that if they just had that one idea they'd be | | | | They let the question hang like a dark cloud over |
| on their way to greater success. Certainly, we | | | | their mind. Don't let it hang - get it out there. |
| can all do things to be more creative, but having | | | | Consider the very worst thing that could happen. |
| ideas isn't the biggest, or even first, source of our | | | | Answer the question in your mind or write it |
| challenges. | | | | down. Often, the absolute worst case isn't as bad |
| Think about it. | | | | as you thought, or you quickly see that the risk |
| You've learned something in a workshop, gone | | | | of the worst case isn't that high. |
| back to work and not implemented it. You've | | | | What is the best possible outcome? Seriously, |
| thought about trying a new approach to your | | | | what is the best thing that could happen? Think |
| meetings, but never did. You've had a great | | | | about this and, again, write it down. This is the |
| marketing idea that never went anywhere. You've | | | | scenario where everything goes perfectly. Will this |
| had an idea for a new product, or new markets | | | | be your outcome? Maybe not, but your worst |
| for an existing product, but they are still nothing | | | | case scenario likely won't happen either. |
| more than ideas.It isn't a lack of ideas or no | | | | It takes both of these questions to really |
| creativity that is stopping you in these (and fifty | | | | understand your situation. Chances are, your |
| other) situations. What is stopping you is fear. The | | | | results will be somewhere between the two. Once |
| fear of failure is keeping you from taking the | | | | you have considered the range of possibilities, you |
| action needed to make progress. | | | | are in a better position to decide whether to |
| Change and Failure | | | | proceed or not, and you will have definitely |
| Failure - and success - are outcomes of change. | | | | reduced your fear of failure if you do take that |
| We cannot succeed at higher levels if we maintain | | | | step forward. |
| status quo. But inherent in change is the possibility | | | | Prepare, But Not Too Long |
| that we might fail. So any discussion of the fear | | | | It is fine to weigh your options, think about your |
| of failure needs to start with a discussion of | | | | next steps and have a plan. But there is a fine line |
| change. While there are downsides and risks | | | | between planning and procrastination. Make sure |
| involved in change (including the risk of failure) | | | | that your fear isn't allowing you to cross this line. |
| think of all of the positives that can come from | | | | Action is one of the best antidotes to fear. |
| change: | | | | Consider it a Challenge |
| Greater productivity | | | | If you consider the risk of major failure a source |
| Better teams | | | | of your fear, use that as a motivator and as a |
| Higher satisfaction | | | | challenge to do everything you can to avoid the |
| More profitability | | | | worst case. This will change your focus away |
| New markets | | | | from fear and towards overcoming your |
| And these are just a few. The next time you feel | | | | challenge. |
| the fear of failure, think about how you feel | | | | Consider Lessons From Past Failures |
| about change and how that is impacting your level | | | | There are two reasons past failures work to your |
| of fear. | | | | advantage. First, when you remind yourself of |
| Framing Failure and Success | | | | what you have learned from past failures, you will |
| One person's failure is another person's success. - | | | | increase your chances for success and reduce |
| it comes down to how you choose to look at it. | | | | your concern about failing again - this reflection will |
| Thomas Watson, founder of IBM, said this about | | | | give you a mindset more like that of Thomas |
| failure: "If you want to succeed, double your | | | | Watson or Thomas Edison. And second, when we |
| failure rate." Watson framed failure as a stepping | | | | review our past failures, we typically see they |
| stone to success - like Thomas Edison did when | | | | weren't as big a flop as we thought - or perhaps |
| he defined failed attempts at a light bulb as "one | | | | we don't even view them as failures any more. |
| more way we know won't work."Edison and | | | | Both of these outcomes will help you reduce the |
| Watson looked at failure not as a FAILURE, but | | | | fear you may still feel. |
| as a lesson learned; a chance to try again. When | | | | These approaches can help you reduce or |
| you begin to frame failure as a learning | | | | eliminate the fear that you feel when facing a |
| opportunity, you take most of the fear out of it. | | | | change and when contemplating the possibility of |
| Think About it Rationally | | | | failure. Activity is the enemy of fear. Take the |
| When you start to think about your fears, ask | | | | risk and try something new - your ideas are |
| yourself two questions. These questions will help | | | | worth taking the chance. It might lead to a less |
| your look at your feelings more logically and | | | | than perfect result, but you didn't learn to ride a |
| rationally. | | | | bicycle without ever falling down (failing) did you? |
| What is the worst thing that could happen? Often | | | | |