September/October, 2023  

Understanding Career Fears

Kay Fittes, October, 2023

It’s that scary time of year, Halloween, when fear is actually fun!  But the rest of the time, the Hobgoblins of fear, regarding your career, are anything but fun.  Overwhelming fear in your career can render you stuck, discontented, and even paralyzed.  If you are expecting this article to tell you not to be afraid, stop reading now.  That is lousy advice!  If you are feeling fearful, that is a legitimate feeling that you deserve to have validated.

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Kay’s Consulting Corner

Each month in this section, Kay offers actionable career consulting tips.

Getting Started Coping with
Career Fears

1. Identifying fear.  Start now, list what is currently scaring the pants off you at work.  I promise there is value in getting it out of your head and in print.  When those Hobgoblins are just floating around in your head, they get bigger and scarier by the minute.  Nothing can be faced until acknowledged!  Notice I said currently, it’s too overwhelming to face everything at once.  Let’s just get noted what is most pressing for you.  If it’s all tied up together and you can’t prioritize, just identify one fear.  Just sit with it for a while, breathe into it, give yourself some compassion that it is OK to feel fearful.  Now speak your fear out loud, it takes away some of the power.  Now, free write about it, that just means write what comes into your head about it.  This process breaks through the denial and sets you up for action.
   
   
2. Sharing fear.  Haven’t you noticed how lonely fear is?  Yep, just you and your fear, an opportunity to scare yourself witless.  Not only does fear amplify, shame kicks in.  You may be saying to yourself, “I’m scared to death, no one else feels this way.  I shouldn’t be so scared.  Other people aren’t scared.  What’s wrong with me?”  Sound familiar?  There is release and affirmation in sharing your fear.  Find one trusted soul with whom you can share this fear.  In my experience, there is freedom in sharing fear.  Choose someone who will affirm, understand, and not judge.  There is unburdening in sharing, that’s often the greatest service I provide, an opportunity to divulge without more fear of judgment.
   
   
3. Strategizing fear.  Now comes the doing, the action.  Fear diminishes when you act.  What is one thing you can do today?  Let’s say you know it is time to start looking for a new job, as your company has already had a round of layoffs.  Your fear has kicked in about interviewing.  Start creating your list of questions to prepare answers to and practice.  Do not overwhelm yourself, your next action needs to be small enough so that you can do it right away.  Once you create your list, tackle answering and practicing three questions each evening or three times a week.  Check out this website to get going on your interview questions.
   
   

If fear continues to keep you stuck in your career, don’t suffer alone.  We can tackle these Hobgoblins together.  Action step #1 is reach out to me for a 45-minute complimentary consultation to discuss your fears by either emailing me at kay@highheeledsuccess.com or calling the office at (513) 561-4288.  Don't let fear rule your life.

Commendation Letter

This letter of commendation was received following a presentation that Kay made to a recent conference.

Click here to see the letter in its entirety.

High-Heeled Success^® supports Dress for Success through donations of clothing, time and money.  We offer complimentary seats at every workshop for women participating in the Dress for Success program.

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