Turning Fear Into Power

The information in this article was extracted from a LinkedIn Live interview with Michelle “Mace” Curran, a former F-16 Thunderbird pilot and a fabulous keynote speaker. I am grateful for the time and wisdom she shared in that interview, and for agreeing to have these tips included in my newsletter. She produces great content on her website and on LinkedIn. Check out macecurran.com and follow her on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/macecurran

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Rare is the project manager who doesn’t experience fear. It’s part of the process of creating unique products and services. After all, you’re leading an initiative to do something that’s never been done before! Worrying about failure, negative perceptions, or missed opportunities is part of the job for most project managers. The good news? You can transform that fear into the power to move forward. Here’s how:

• Review your perspective – is what you fear actually probable to occur? When fear takes over, we tend to get stuck in our own heads, and the world becomes distorted. It’s common to exaggerate the probability and the impact of something going wrong. Step back and look at the situation from 30,000 feet. Most of the time, you won’t find historical problem indicators that match your current situation. If you do see similarities, you now have more wisdom and experience to address the concern before it derails your project.

• Don’t face your fears alone. Here’s something interesting: when you say your worries out loud to a friend or mentor, they often sound a bit silly. Or if they don’t sound silly, at least you can start brainstorming how to handle them. Either way, you’re adding to your own power by getting fear out of your head and into the open. You don’t have to project an image of invincibility and all-knowingness. Talking about your concerns isn’t a weakness; it’s a strength that underscores the need to manage project risk. Bonus – it also encourages others to share concerns without fear of retribution.

• Sort out what you can and cannot control.Separate everything you know about a concerning situation into two columns…what you can control in one column, and everything you can’t in the other. Then ignore the second column and focus on the first. You’d be surprised by how much this exercise can reduce anxiety and help you focus on building a sound risk management plan.

• Plan, knowing it won’t be perfect. Build a plan that the team can understand, with their roles clearly defined. But don’t obsess over small details. Let the team, with their capabilities, work out the details.  As a project manager, you decide how much planning is enough. Use your experience, the team’s reactions and questions to refine the level of detail you include in your plans. Don’t let fear trick you into thinking you need to create a detailed, prescriptive plan when it isn’t required.

• Remember – having some fear expands your power and capability. Being nervous can keep you sharp and focused. It’s when fear becomes overwhelming that it stops serving you. Athletes and high performers know this well—there’s a zone where stress and fear boost your performance. The goal isn’t to eliminate fear; that would stop you from taking on meaningful projects. Instead, keep fear at a level that propels your performance rather than paralyzes you.