The idea that we can get rid of fear keeps us stuck. The wisdom traditions suggest another approach – that of looking clearly at our fear. Of facing it without flinching or turning away.

There is a lot of fear in organizational life.

Of course, there is! It’s made up of people, most of whom have turned very far away from their fear. I can certainly relate. It’s not comfortable to face fear where it lives – in my heart and mind. But, it seems to be the only way of  working creatively with this powerful emotion.

When we don’t face our fears, we project them.

Then, other people loom much larger and appear more menacing than they need to be. They become the “reason” to be afraid. And to strike back. Perhaps, we’ve learned something about the limits of such an approach over the past eight years.

Now, there are new things to be afraid of as a culture. The uncontrollable nature of the economy world. It’s like the nice solid container in which we’ve been keeping our cherished assumptions has cracked. And our certainty is draining away.

Again, the spiritual traditions suggest that this kind of drainage disillusionment is a good thing. It’s getting rid of illusions that allows us to face our fears and our life with greater freedom. In fact, it is the facing that gives birth to the freedom.

Personal leadership  starts as we turn towards our fears and face them.

We are then able to stand by others as they turn to face their fears. Exhorting people (ourselves or others) to be fearless doesn’t work. It pushes the scariness deeper underground where it continues to errode the foundations of integrity and trust. Better to practice facing. The freedom that comes from this is trustworthy.

Here’s some of what I wrote about fear in my book You are the Leader You’ve Been Waiting For:

When you take time to honestly examine your fears, you find something unexpected. You find a tenderness that is linked to your soul’s longing for wholeness and service. This tenderness protects the lost parts of yourself. You need these missing parts in order to fulfill your calling.

Questions for Reflection & Action:

1. Where have you turned away from fear?
2. What support do you need to turn towards towards the fear and face it?

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