Many people work grueling hours at their companies. Even making simple dinner plans can be a chore, since professionals never know what sort of crisis may pop up at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday afternoon. Though often unhappy and frustrated, professionals, by nature, are risk averse, so many stay put in their companies rather than pursuing other opportunities.
Why are we so risk averse? Forbes explains that, usually, we overestimate the possibility of something going wrong. We think about the losses more than the potential gains. Usually, however, the risk of something not going well is not as high as we think it is, and the odds of something going well are actually higher. Similarly, we often exaggerate the consequences of what may occur if something does go wrong. We always think about the worst-case scenario. In reality, if something does go wrong, we will take action to correct it—not sit idly by as our lives crumble around us. We have to remind ourselves that we are able to handle the consequences of risk. You can face that challenge, no matter what it is, so long as you believe you can.
- See Taking Risks in Two or More Dimensions for more information.
To overcome this hurdle, ask yourself three questions: What would I do if I were being more courageous? How will inaction cost me a year from now if I do nothing? Where is my fear of failure causing me to overestimate the size of risk, underestimate myself and holding me back from taking risks that could serve me?
After all, HBR.org explains that taking a gamble may actually be a great move for your career.
What most of us consider as a “safe” move actually does contain some element of uncertainty. Safety generally depends on the consistency of a condition, such as the value of a currency, a stable marriage, or job security. In real life, very few conditions remain static all of the time. Even staying put in a company has its risks—there may be departmental layoffs, the company’s business may slow down, or high-level employees may leave the company, significantly altering the workplace environment.
In many cases, we can evaluate risk by doing a bit of research. For example, does your company engage in excessive spending? Is there a high turnover of employees? Do you know what the true nature of your company’s reputation is? All of these factors can help you evaluate whether staying at the company is a safer bet than departing the company. Remember, sometimes the cost of doing nothing is higher than the risk of taking action.
Therefore, if you are torn on whether or not you should take a risk in your career, do your research, obtain expertise from credible sources, and study the level of risk that may be present by staying put.
- See When to Make a Career Move: Increasing Your Marketability for more information.
Source: HBR.org
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