Busy business owners and key leaders are often running so fast that they rarely stop long enough to recognize the force that drives them. Is it forward thinking or fear and worry that is boosting or limiting the growth trajectory in your business?
Fear
Fear is human and cannot be eliminated by anyone, but when uncertainty is the driving force it chokes the growth out of a business. Unfortunately, leaders are usually unaware of this cause of stagnation.
Business owners that run their companies based on fear always worry that there will never be enough revenue to sustain, let alone grow, the business. There is concern that their decisions will be wrong and that they will look stupid as a result. No decision is a decision which leaves the business growth just spinning in place without progress. This avoidance pattern gets in the way of making tough choices and often means that necessary decisions do not get made.
The unknown keeps these leaders stuck in what’s comfortable even though what’s comfortable won’t take them to their goals. It’s a repetitive cycle and will continue until it’s acknowledged and intentionally and effectively broken.
Forward
Business owners who run their businesses based on a forward focus are centered on what they want to accomplish today plus looking ahead.
Forward thinkers allow themselves to worry about being wrong, but they don’t allow it to pull them backwards. These leaders acknowledge that fear is present, but they don’t allow it to engulf every choice they make each day. Their driving force is the goals they seek to accomplish and they make decisions based on what’s needed to advance.
The key is to focus forward, and you can even let the fear stand beside you. However, do not allow the worry to keep you stuck or spinning in place. Your business moves with you so if you are struggling to grow, take a moment to ask yourself if you are growing forward or fearing forward.
If you aren’t sure where to begin, ask for help. An outside perspective can move you forward more quickly than you can on your own.
About the Author
Debra Kunz is the Founder and Chief Catalyst of DkK Group, LLC, a business coaching and consulting company based in the Kansas City area. Debra is a Certified Business Coach with 24 years of experience that includes 15 industries, and is the mastermind of the Deliberate Growth™ System to Raise Revenue and Manage Growth.