Laserfiche WebLink
forward. You try to achieve a change goal -- lose some weight, improve <br /> a relationship, or re-organize your company -- but find yourself two <br /> steps backward. It happens. <br /> So you end up feeling more discouraged and disappointed than before. <br /> The risky mention of change becomes so scary and uncomfortable that you <br /> may be tempted to resist all change. And that's unfortunate. <br /> After all, all progress is the result of change, but all change is <br /> challenging. As Arnold Bennett observed, "Any change, even a change for <br /> the better is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts. " You <br /> just can't let the fear of change stop you from moving forward. <br /> As I've studied the phenomenon of change, as I've consulted with <br /> organizations on their change processes, and as I've spoken on the topic <br /> to countless audiences, I've learned there are five fears. And I've <br /> learned if you can identify the fear and take a bit of action, you can <br /> conquer the fear. So here they are. <br /> => 1. The Fear Of The Unknown <br /> To some extent, the status quo is always comforting. Stripped of the <br /> familiar routines, you are bound to feel lost and disoriented. <br /> On the other hand, change champions realize that every worthwhile change <br /> involves jumping into the unknown. And that's okay. They know that <br /> learning to cope with the unknown builds their self-esteem, and they <br /> know that if they let fear win, they couldn't possibly respect <br /> themselves. <br /> => 2. The Fear Of Failure <br /> The fear of failure causes some people to quit soon after they start the <br /> change process. They give up at the first signs of difficulty, or they <br /> whine, "It's too hard. " They have the irrational belief that they <br /> should be good at something the first time they try it. <br /> Change champions are different. They accept the fact that change <br /> involves risk, and risk involves failure. But they also know that those <br /> who risk get the most rewards. Change champions allow themselves the <br /> freedom to try, to fail, to learn, to try again -- without beating <br /> themselves up. Their goal is to try something new, instead of being <br /> immediately successful at something new. They strive for progress <br /> instead of perfection. <br /> => 3. The Fear Of Commitment <br /> Some people, the non-achievers in particular, like to "keep their <br /> options open. " They even use that terminology to justify or explain <br /> their behavior. And it sounds so good. It sounds like they're being so <br /> very flexible. <br /> In reality, it's a fear of commitment that's stopping them from focusing <br /> their energies on one person, career, or goal. It's the person, for <br /> example, who just can't commit himself in a relationship. After all, he <br /> says, "What if somebody better comes along?" And so that individual <br /> never has a truly deep and meaningful relationship. <br /> Or it's the person who never fully commits himself to a particular job <br /> -- because "what if the company takes advantage of him?" And then he <br /> wonders why he never moves up in the organization. <br /> To those who are suffering from the fear of commitment, commitment <br /> doesn't sound like much fun. After all, commitment forces a person to <br /> 2 <br />