Are These Fears Limiting Your Career Progression

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Sometimes the obstacles holding us back from advancing in our careers is ourselves. Often it’s fear. The following contributed post is entitled, Are These Fears Limiting Your Career Progression.

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Are you bored with your current career position?

Do you regularly complain about your place on the career ladder?

Are you struggling to live on a low wage?

If so, then you need to take steps to progress in your career, whether that’s moving from an entry-level position in your own company, or be it moving into higher positions elsewhere if you have outgrown the company you are already working in.

But if you haven’t taken the necessary next steps yet, it could be down to the fears we suggest in this article. To move forward, you need to find ways to overcome them.

Fear #1: The fear that you aren’t good enough

What if you don’t have what it takes to manage new responsibilities? What if other people pick up on your weaknesses? What if you get fired for being bad in your new position?

These ‘what if’s’ are common to those who fear they aren’t good enough. However, if you already feel ready for career progression, then you might have what it takes after all. But even if you don’t, you can overcome this fear by taking the necessary steps to better yourself. So, you might take training courses to brush up on your skills, or you might consider a graduate degree that pertains to higher positions on your career path. You might also have the opportunity to learn key skills where you are now, so ask your boss for help, or speak to your colleagues for assistance.

By taking these steps, you will increase in confidence, and so the fear of not being good enough might disappear.

Fear #2: The fear of change

By moving into new positions within or outside of your company, you might be afraid of leaving the people you already have a working relationship with. Should you be ready to apply for executive jobs, you might be afraid of the responsibilities involved in a leadership position. If a move in your career necessitates a relocation, then you might be afraid of living and starting out somewhere new.

It’s the fear of change, of life being different, and while progression is a good thing, you might worry about the repercussions.

But here’s the thing. More often than not, change is a good thing.

In the examples we listed above, you might discover that you still have time to meet up with your existing colleagues while making new friendships along the way. You might enjoy a leadership role, not only because of the financial benefits but because you will have a hand in shaping a company too. And you might discover a wealth of new opportunities if you have to relocate, including the chance to meet new people and see other parts of the world.

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing, and especially if you are worried that you are currently stagnating in your current position, you should consider the risk of change a viable one.

Finally

Listen, you don’t have to progress in your career. If you are happy where you, then fine. However, if you know you have more to offer your industry, and if you want to gain greater financial and personal rewards at work, then no matter what your fears are, you should face them head-on and take steps to conquer them. Your life might change for the better if you do.

Author: anwaryusef

Anwar Y. Dunbar is a Regulatory Scientist. Being a naturally curious person, he is also a student of all things. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his Bachelor’s Degree in General Biology from Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU). Prior to starting the Big Words Blog Site, Anwar published and contributed to numerous research articles in competitive scientific journals reporting on his research from graduate school and postdoctoral years. After falling in love with writing, he contributed to the now defunct Examiner.com, and the Edvocate where he regularly wrote about: Education-related stories/topics, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Financial Literacy; as well as conducted interviews with notable individuals such as actor and author Hill Harper. Having many influences, one of his most notable heroes is author, intellectual and speaker, Malcolm Gladwell, author of books including Outliers and David and Goliath. Anwar has his hands in many, many activities. In addition to writing, Anwar actively mentors youth, works to spread awareness of STEM careers, serves on the Board of Directors of the Friends of the David M. Brown Arlington Planetarium, serves as Treasurer for the JCSU Washington, DC Alumni Chapter, and is active in the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Ministry at the Alfred Street Baptist Church. He also tutors in the subjects of biology, chemistry and physics. Along with his multi-talented older brother Amahl Dunbar (designer of the Big Words logos, inventor and a plethora of other things), Anwar is a “Fanboy” and really enjoys Science-Fiction and Superhero movies including but not restricted to Captain America Civil War, Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Prometheus. He is a proud native of Buffalo, NY.

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