Have you ever been afraid? Well, of course, we have all been fearful at different points in our lives. Why? Because fear is a normal part of human life.
As a child, I experienced all of the usual fears that children experience. As I grew older I realized several things that didn’t bother me as a child now were a challenge. For example, as a child, I love to climb everything. I would climb trees, ladders, and even buildings.
My friends and I would climb on top of my neighbor’s garage and jump off it like superheroes. As we would line up to climb up to the roof, I would always be first-in-line. Now, I didn’t say it a wise choice, but it was fun.
Well, imagine my surprise when I realized as an adult that I wouldn’t say I liked heights. At first, my fear was manifested in simple everyday activities. For example, I take the stairs instead of the down escalator.
Over the years, I have worked to overcome my fear of heights. How? By looking for the benefits, I will receive from the activity. For example, I love to snow ski. When I am at the top of the mountain looking down, I remind myself how much I enjoy skiing down the hill.
As I grew older, I experienced fear in many other ways. Every time I change jobs or faced adversity, I experience fear. Adversity and fear go hand-in-hand. Because when we don’t know what to expect, we experience fear.
Fear is a primary human emotion, just like love, joy, and sadness. According to Dr. Theo Tsaousides, “The capacity to be afraid is part of normal brain function. In fact, a lack of fear may be a sign of serious brain damage.” So, it is normal to experience fear.
So, what does it mean when you hear people say they are fearless? Being fearless doesn’t mean you eliminate fear, but you learn to leverage your fear into hope. Amid adversity, you will need to leverage your fear.
How can you become fearless? It starts with your thinking, especially in the middle of a crisis. John Maxwell reminds us, “How we view things is how we do things.” Leaders face adversity and experience fear frequently.
Therefore, if you want to be successful, you will need to be aware of your perspective; one of fear, or one of hope…
It will be your job to “bring hope out of chaos” (Maxwell). Yes, good things can come out of adversity.
It is during the challenging times we grow the most as leaders. Remember, your job as a leader is to remove barriers and champion your team. So, embrace adversity and look beyond fear to hope.
“Thank God for the tough times. They are the reason you are here – to be the leader.”
– John C. Maxwell
What fears must you look beyond while leading through a crisis?
#YourLeadershipGuide
Kim
Want to be a better leader during times of crisis? Click HERE to view my free Leading Through Crisis Masterclass and learn how.
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