Below are the top 5 biggest fears people like myself have. Understanding these fears has been critical in shaping our future content with the hopes we’ll be able to address some of these insecurities. Do you see yourself in any of these?
1. There’s a bad case of the Imposter Syndrome going around. Perhaps no surprise here but one of the biggest worries among managers is being “caught.” In other words, they fear others will soon discover he or she is totally incompetent in their job. In most cases, of course, this is complete rubbish but it doesn’t stop extremely smart managers from continual self-doubt which can lead to actual incompetence.
2. Looking stupid. Related to this is a constant fear that as a boss, you’ll do or say something that will make you look like an idiot. Managers who worry about this will close themselves off from their team or make decisions unilaterally because they’re worried about asking “dumb questions.” The result is that your team will actually see you as both foolish and a jerk.
3. Appearing vulnerable. Bosses tend to think they need to exhibit an air of authority and “knowingness.” They can’t be emotional or god forbid, cry. Surprisingly, research has shown that showing your team that you are a vulnerable person with hopes and fears goes a long way in actually engaging your employees. I’ve heard several stories from entrepreneurs who’ve said that when they open up about the troubles their companies are in, their staff actually works harder. People like authenticity and they especially like it in people they work for.
4. Political attacks. Office politics is an unfortunate side effect of any business. Dealing with this is no different, whether you’re the boss or the employee. Bosses worry that people around them are going to undermine their position or betray their confidence, which often results in bosses hiring people who are way less competent. If you surround yourself with inferior people, then you don’t have to worry about losing your job. You just have to worry about losing the business.
5. Underachieving. Good bosses and entrepreneurs are already pretty motivated, ambitious individuals. They wake up every morning ready for the hustle. Sometimes, what keeps them hustling is a deep-seeded fear that they’re not performing as well as their peers. This can result in extremely long hours and bad health. A little fear of failure is a great motivator–when it becomes constant and overwhelming, it can be soul destroying.
As I mentioned, I’ve battle my own fears as I’ve started this company. Sometimes the best way to get through them is to talk to your friends and mentors who’ve also gone through dark times. One afternoon, I recorded just such a conversation with my friend, Gary Garrabrant, a successful Wall Street financier and entrepreneur himself. Watch our conversation on overcoming fear below and be sure to stay tuned to Radiate.
