6 steps for dealing with fear as a leader

When you’re running a business, there are two words you may not associate with being a top performer: love and soulfulness. Yet Dr. Pippa Grange, a sports psychologist who has worked with elite athletes across the globe to overcome fear and find success, believes those two words are key to achieving. In her book, “Fear Less: Face Not-Good-Enough to Replace Your Doubts, Achieve Your Goals, and Unlock Your Success,” Grange writes, “It is scary to talk about soul or love in our hyper-rational, data-driven world, but I am convinced these are the missing pieces in our potential. And in fighting fear, this is the only genuine way to talk about change and becoming fearless.”

If you’re a business leader, does this resonate with you? Or does thinking about “soul” or “love” in the context of meeting sales goals and objectives seem weird? The thing is, fear is real. You’ve no doubt felt it in your career, possibly even more so as a leader. That’s why understanding your fears is so important. You have to focus on your journey and the desire you have in your soul to win for the sake of doing what you love—not being right or the best. And that is tough. Truthfully, you must get vulnerable to understand why those fears exist. Because once you understand those fears, you can not only make them manageable, but learn to become fearless in your pursuits.

Here are 6 steps for dealing with fears as a leader.

How often do you think about what others will perceive of you and your decision-making? Do you fear judgment? Are you concerned you’ll be seen as weak? Do you worry you’ll fail altogether? If you’re worried about what others will think, you may be at risk of performative work because you’re intentionally playing a role to make people believe you are acting with certainty. But are you being authentic? Think about how you show up in your business. If you’re heavy handed and demanding of people, is that because of that you’ll be seen in one of the ways listed here? Lean into the discomfort and allow yourself to begin understanding where that fear is coming from. Removing a mask isn’t easy, but it’s worthwhile.

Fear is a biological response to a threat. It was not only critical to the survival of the human race, but it’s also what keeps animals on high alert when predators are nearby. While we’re no longer keeping our families safe from lions or bears, when a modern-day threat stimulates your amygdala, you still go into a caveman type of response. The amygdala lights up and your body reacts by freezing, releasing stress hormones, and your brain jumps into fight or flight mode. Those who meet those fears head-on can grow and learn from scary situations. It can even sharpen your thinking and help you build your strength and self-compassion if you embrace your fear and see it as an opportunity instead of a roadblock.

Seth Godin refers to your brain’s ability to flood your emotions as “lizard brain.” Like wild animals, part of our brain is built to keep us safe. That lizard brain likes to take over when we start to think about taking risks. Godin encourages people to not fight that part of the brain. Instead, take what it is telling you to make an action happen instead. Maybe you want to write a book, but your lizard brain is telling you that people will judge what you have to say. Instead, reframe what your brain is telling you. The fear may not go away, but as Godin says, you can’t do work that matters without being afraid. But you can learn to dance with that fear.

Once you’ve started to identify your fears, it’s time to get curious about why those fears exist in the first place. Curiosity drives us to ask questions, learn new things, and find solutions. It helps us connect more deeply with others through genuine engagement. And when it comes to your fears, it can help you become more aware of the deeper reasons behind them. If you’re afraid of writing that book or expanding your business, dig in and ask yourself the real reasons behind those fears. Be willing to get uncomfortable to grow more aware. It may just uncover some truths that will help you move forward, motivated and ready to change the world.

If you’ve felt fear as a small business owner, it shows you’re pushing yourself to do something incredible. That’s why it’s so important to talk about those fears. Think about it this way: the Wright Brothers didn’t have a formal education, but powered through to become the first in flight. Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school varsity basketball team but became one of the greatest basketball players in history. If we didn’t know these stories, we might just believe some people are destined for greatness. Instead, when they faced their fears, the world changed because of it. Tell your story and share your fears. You never know who it may inspire.

As a leader, it’s up to you to shape the environment of your business. When you model the ability to face your fears and show that you can learn from those fears, it demonstrates courage. When your teams begin to see that they have psychological safety within your business, they will gain courage to face their fears as well.

Fear is a normal part of life. But it’s how you react to it that shows your true character. Don’t run from it. Instead, use it to reframe how you see yourself, your work, and your capabilities. It will be worth it.

Jim Allen is a business leader and entrepreneur who has built one of the top-producing real estate groups in the Triangle. He is President of The Jim Allen Group, which is consistently named one of the top real estate teams in North Carolina and even North America.