The Leading Question Article Series

How Do Leaders Eliminate Fear? They Don't!

Members of the senior management describe their team, each other, and even themselves, as all but paralyzed by fear. This is a typical group of highly accomplished, confident executives with strong personalities. And they find themselves in the clutches of fear. Not unusual in today's business climate.

Despair is crippling their vision, creativity and risk-taking, which have been the hallmarks of their previous success. The fundamental basis of any modern enterprise is a measured and calculated taking of risk in hopes of greater gains. To stop taking risk is in essence to stop doing business. It is equivalent to a person just curling up and waiting to die. Fear can become a paralyzing force that can render a once energetic and enterprising company into a weeping, blubbering, shivering shell of its former self.

Be not afraid of going slowly; be only afraid of standing still.
--Chinese Proverb

Fear is a constant companion during tough times, but how one manages it is the measure of masterful leadership. One who succumbs to fear surrenders the ability to lead. Standing up to fear, acknowledging its presence, and resolving to move forward, requires determination and courage.

We are all hardwired for fear, as a way to protect ourselves. But in an organization fear can be catastrophic. In the face of fear we will often react with a flight response. The actions we take are desperate, without vision... a survival instinct. Or fear will manifest itself in bravado or narcissism – a fight response. Actions are misguided and wasteful. They are divisive and mercurial, and at times violent... 'the-best-defense-is-a-good-offense' strategy. Or we simply default to a freeze response... 'if I don't do anything the threat may disappear!' All of these responses are devastating to the organizations we are charged with leading.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
--Ambrose Redmoon

Wise leaders acknowledge that fear is just a normal emotional reaction – and then move through it. Everyone else around them may be shaking in their boots, lashing out, or living with knots in their stomachs, but not the leader. He or she replaces fear with trust: in himself, her resources, other people and his/her ability to work with the best in people. This is not a naive trust, but rather a confident wisdom in the face of challenges and dangers.

Wise leaders put fear in its place – which is behind their commitment, not in front of it.

Dr. Rick Kranzley
Senior Partner
O'Brien Group