Of the many things that might stop us from changing our job or career, fear can be the most difficult to deal with. Our fear can be crippling and make us overlook facts and logic, quickly closing down any actions we might think of taking. Fear also misrepresents reality, and this quickly starts to make change look unattractive or unattainable.

 

However, there is a way of dealing with fear, proven actions you can take to overcome this tricky barrier and get you moving in the direction of what's next in your career.

So, let’s get started by first understanding what fear is …

 

1.      Understand that fear is normal                     

 

The first thing to recognise is that fearing change is a normal part of our psychological behaviour. It’s only natural that fear will show up when you contemplate change and the possibility of leaving what you know for something new. The first step, therefore, is to acknowledge that fear is normal. Fear showing up is nothing more than an evolutionary response to uncertainty. And, as we will see, when you get clear on the specifics of your fear, you can learn to deal with and sidestep any resulting blocks that shows up.

2.      Identify your specific fears

 

Once you understand that fear is normal, the next step is to identify your specific fears. Take some time to reflect on what specifically you fear when you contemplate changing careers. Understanding the specifics of what you are fearing will make it easier for you to address your doubts.

 

You fears might include for example:

 

-           Feeling like you don’t have the confidence to change

-           Not wanting to deal with the process of change

-           Financial worries about making a career leap, or

-           Meeting new people / saying goodbye to work colleagues

 

It will be easier for you to explore each of your fears in more detail by asking yourself questions about the actual risks involved. What for example are the worst-case scenarios and what you can do to lower the potential risk that might arise along the way. 

 

You will also see, when you start to look at your fears in this way, that:

 

3.      You have relatively few fears and most of the worries you have about changing career don't materialise

 

You might find that you have two or three fears showing up which makes it much easier to deal with than thinking you have a big list to deal with. Creating a plan of action for dealing with a defined list of fears is much easier when you know what you are dealing with.

 

In addition, you might also see that your fears are irrational and unlikely to materialise. I've found that almost all of these worries and concerns dissipate when you start taking career-changing actions.

 

It's a bit like when you are invited to a party and don't want to go? But you go anyway and have a great time. The fact you didn't want to go wasn't a predictor of whether you would enjoy the party.

 

It's the same with your career change. So, you can set aside most of the worries you have before you start because most aren't going to show up on your career change journey, which reminds me of the quote by Mark Twain.

 

 

Which leads us on to the next important point …

 

4.      Inactivity keeps the fear active; action makes it vanish

One of the biggest reasons people don't get started in their career change is that they wait until they have everything figured out, including waiting for their fear to subside or miraculously disappear.  

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way; you need to take action in pursuit of your career change first. This has the double benefit of helping you to get clearer and more motivated about your change and at the same time you will see that your fears begin to dissipate. Taking action in pursuit of a better career is vital.

 

 

If you still need support, there are various professional resources to assist with the challenges of changing jobs. You might seek a career coach to help guide you through changing jobs or careers and help you deal with any lingering fears that remain.

Also, consider reaching out to your network or to professionals in a field or role that interests you and find out more about some of the concerns you might have.

So here is a summary of what you can do to banish the fears of make a career change: 

1.          Understand that fear is normal; it shows up when we make changes in our life

 

2.          Identifying the specifics of any fears that show up reduces their impacts and allows you to make a plan

 

3.          Know that you have very few fears, and most of those won't materialise anyway

 

4.          Inactivity keeps the fear active; activity makes it vanish

 

5.           Seek professional advice if you need it

 

If you are interested in finding out more about loving your job and having a great career, look at my websiteto see the many ways I can help you in your career.

If you are unsure about career coaching, let's have an informal chat.

 

Bye for now!