Calculated risk-taking is critically important to organizations today. In fact, many leaders are proactively encouraging their teams to take risks, stretch, and be fearless in pursuit of the company’s overall goals.
Interestingly, that behavior is NOT naturally hard-wired in our brains. Brain imaging technology tells us that human beings are naturally risk adverse. Is there a way to break free from this? According to Margie Warrell in her book, Brave: 50 Everyday Acts of Courage to Thrive in Work, Love and Life, we should ask ourselves 3 questions to overcome our tendency to play it safe.
• What would I do if I were being more courageous?
• How will inaction cost me one year from now if I do nothing?
• Where is my fear of failure causing me to over-estimate the size of risk, under-estimate myself, and holding me back from taking risks that would serve me (my business, etc.)?
The author also says we should fear regret more than failure. (Talk about a cool statement, huh?)
That said, embracing risk doesn’t mean you need to break all the rules. It can be as simple as advocating for your professional development. Tell your boss you NEED to attend ISE EXPO 2016 because it provides 30+ seminars that will help you and your company. Take a stand and say that in order to think creatively and make a difference, you MUST network with colleagues from other ICT companies. (Registration for ISE EXPO 2016 opens mid-May at www.iseexpo.com.)
It’s YOUR time to embrace risk-taking. Why? Because as Margie says, "Fortune favors the bold."
(Source: http://www.trainthebrave.com)
P.S. Have you kept your ISE magazine subscription current? Talk about an act that requires no boldness whatsoever but supports your professional development! It’s simple to renew. Go to https://isemag.com/renew.
