Getting our Fears in order

We all want courage. We want to be able to face uncertainty, daunting odds, and those nagging internal voices that erode our confidence.

Fear is natural. The only people without fear are the crazy and the naive. Neither are recommended traits in a leader.

Instead, consider: getting our fears in order.

What we spend time fretting about reveals much about our true life priorities. So, if fear is natural and even somewhat helpful, the first goal is to ensure our fears are "rightly ordered."

Here's an example:

First: What's my place in the universe? Why am I here and to what extent am I serving that purpose with my time, talent, and treasure? A leader who knows their "why" can bear any "what" or "how".

Second: Do my life and work serve those closest to me and those who depend on me most? This isn't our VPs or shop floor leaders. This includes our spouse, children, parents, extended family and friends. Serving these folks is the most important job we'll ever have. They ultimately don't really care about what we do for work. They care if we are there for them. 

Third: To what extent does my professional work provide an opportunity and aid my ability to do the above two things better? That's it. This doesn't make work or concerns about work unimportant.

In fact, it raises the purpose of our work to a much higher understanding. 

The right priorities help us rightly focus our concern and attention. Address one and two first, and the concerns of the third will be much easier to face. 

Getting our fears in order is the key to facing life and leadership with both clarity and courage.

Check out my latest book: Leading Conflict: How To Fight at Work.

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