Don’t let fear get the better of you in your career

An article from Shine.com

It is a hard fact that many of us remain stuck in our careers, only out of fear. Fear of not getting any other job, fear of losing our job, fear of not getting our due. Here are 5 steps to help you get rid of baseless fears.

As the mother of a toddler, I go above and beyond to ensure that my son is not afraid of the world.

However as adults, we don't have many people in our lives telling us that things are going to be ok.

Instead, we are bombarded with scary news. The internet, while an amazingly useful tool, spreads scary news like wildfire uncovered from the largest to the smallest places on the globe. The world does not have to be a scary place; what we focus on is scary.

So, how do you not let fear get the best of you in your career? Follow these 5 steps below:

Recognize the harm that being scared does to your career.
We hear constantly that the job market is awful. (Or, in other words scary.) Unemployment is up and we should be happy to just have a job. The truth is many people are not happy, but fear keeps them from getting ready for their next job. Fear is paralyzing. It holds you back and prevents your creativity and energy, the real you, from emerging. Highly qualified, but less confident people lose job opportunities to the less qualified and more confident. (Also read: Is your attitude creating a hurdle in your job-search?)

Ask yourself what you would be doing next if you were not scared.
It's ok to think big and hope for the best. Having something positive and exciting to look forward to is wonderful. It gives your career purpose, passion, and direction. What do you want to do next in your career? Ask the question and let the answer come out. Don't worry about how you will do it yet. Allow your dream to surface, and then you can find a way to make it happen.

Research what's working in your industry.
Every industry has some aspect of it that's going right. Car companies might not be making as much money as they'd like, but car repair companies are doing well. In my former profession, which was marketing, sending out catalogs is no longer profitable, but social media is. Your goal is to look inside your industry to see where the opportunities are. Once you know what aspect of your industry IS making money, you can get yourself ready to learn more/train more/do more in that area. (Read: How do I further my career growth?)

Start planning now.
It's true that there are fewer jobs today. Outsourcing has taken some jobs away. But that is not your excuse to stand still and do nothing about your career. Markets go up and down and yes, we are in a downturn. The good news is there will be an up, and you can get ready for your "up" now. List your goals. What do you want and what are the specific steps you can take to get there? When the opportunities arise, and they will, you will be ready. (Read: The need for planning at work.)

Remind yourself that there is a lot of good in the world too.
Not everything is bad in the world. There are the family and friends you have in your life. There are seasons and beauty in nature. You have gifts and talents that are special to you. Focus on the positive in life and spread the word. People like, and need, to hear, see and read the good too.

Deborah Brown-Volkman
PCC Career, Life, Wellness, and Mentor Coach President, Surpass Your Dreams, Inc