7 Steps : Leaning Into Your Success

Recently I had a conversation with a friend about an opportunity they were considering. We talked about the pros and cons as well as some of the fears that they were having as they considered if this was the right opportunity for them. The opportunity was tailored to their passion but the fear they were feeling of the unknown was paralyzing their decision.

As we chatted I reflected back on how many times I have avoided decisions because I was afraid of failure or I was frustrated by the inaction of those around me. Early in my career I would avoid action because I was afraid that someone might judge me or realize that I was not as competent as I should be. As a teen I was very hard on myself and afraid that if I did not excel at what I chose to do that I would be discovered as an imposter..... my inner imposter is something that I have wrestled with since my teens. Looking back I know that this held me back in my willingness to try things, take risks and to share what I was seeing or feeling. I let fear override my inner GPS that was telling me to take action. Even just one small step was often enough to overcome my inactivity towards my goals.

Over the years I have learned to embraced my inner doubt. I have learned listen to the message behind the imposter voice and use it to plan for contingencies that could happen. This allowed me to be more prepared. I was able to embraced the discomfort, use it to plan, and still take a small step forward. It is about leaning into the discomfort of the emotions and listening for the concern or emotion behind the message. How did I do this?

1. Listen. What is the message behind the fear? Emotions are given to us to help us see potential. By listening to the voice we can hear what the concerns might be and plan ways to overcome the challenge. This means identifying the emotion and being curious about what is driving the emotion. Curiosity helps you gain perspective and consider things that you may not have thought of. This empowers you to consider solutions rather than becoming frozen by inaction.

2. Take time to plan. This step is about not letting the doubt overshadow the goal. It is about asking yourself what you need to make the decision and then answering the questions that come up with the solutions that come to mind. If there are some questions that you don't have an immediate answer to, this gives yourself permission to work through them one at a time. By considering what you know it gives you the confidence to tackle your unknowns in a methodical and logical way. Each smaller step seems more manageable than trying to move the whole problem all at once.

3. Prioritize. Take a look at each step of the plan and determine what order will move the plan forward the best. Taking the first step is often the most challenging, so make it something achievable. After overcoming the initial concerns and finding ways to over come it, challenge yourself to take one step by a specific deadline. Be specific what you will do and when. This could be making a call, setting up an appointment or it could even be just making a list of who you need to talk to when. Considering the smaller steps breaks larger opportunities into something that can be more easily managed. You can then look at the next steps. Before you know it, you are moving it forward and building momentum towards your goals.

4. Breathe. You don't have to have the perfect plan before you take a step. All you need to know is the direction you want to go and then have the courage to take the first step. Trust that you can figure out each new step along the way rather than becoming frozen by not having the full path mapped out. Even the best laid plans have wrinkles that we need to overcome so don't make it perfect - make it doable for you. Take action based on clarity of what you are trying to achieve. Taking time to breathe and plan helps you ground your decisions rather than reacting to what is going on around you.

5. Be willing to pivot. If you take a step and realize that it is not where you wanted to be, pivot. Shift your direction to correct to what you need to be doing. Give yourself the grace to admit when you need to shift, and not expect your plan to be perfect every step of the way. Each step along the way, whether successful or not, takes you one step closer to your ultimate goal. When things don't quite work out is when our best learning happens so embrace the challenge.

6. Be clear on your why. Many great ideas fail because we are not clear with why an action needs to happen. This means taking time to plan and envision a result complete with how it will feel and look like when you are done. Involve the people around you who have a stake in the decision or direction will help keep the plan on track. The more people you have to support your decision, the easier a transition will be. Engaging others, where appropriate, will empower them and create a joint commitment to the outcome. This will make the shift easier for everyone. It will also help you persevere when a challenge comes up.

7. Just Do It!! Nike was on to something with this phrase! Sometimes you just need to try something and not overthink the outcome. Overthinking can paralyze a good idea or result. Take a risk - what is the worst thing that can happen? Plan a contingency for it and then you are ready stop react should something need to shift.

Your Invitation:

If you read the 7 ways to move ahead and it fills you with dread or fear, let's talk. I can work with you to help you pinpoint what might be getting in your way or to help you find a step that gets you going forward. As a coach I can help you find the perspective, courage and confidence you need to take the first step to creating your vision for the future.

Taking leadership of your life or your role requires the courage to identify a problem, plan solutions and take action. While not every action will be successful, every action can evolve. Only the actions not taken will prevent you from moving your goals or ideas forward.

Challenge yourself to create the life you want!

Judy

To book your free 30 minute discovery session email me at judy@molnarconsulting.ca today!