Does the fear of failure ever hold you back? Do you sometimes find yourself too scared to push yourself above and beyond your limit? If so, you are not alone. These fears are fairly common in today’s working world. What’s important is how the fear is managed.
I recently experienced a bit of failure myself when I missed passing the CAE (Certified Association Executive) exam by two points. Needless to say I was disappointed and upset, especially given the amount of studying and preparation that went into the endeavor. At first I was ready to give up and accept the fact that I didn’t have what it takes to pass the exam, however, after some thought and reflection, I realized that I should absolutely try again. I spoke to many people who admitted to failing the exam their first time as well, and it dawned on me that I really wasn’t alone.
My road to recovery first started with accepting my failure. The world didn’t end, no one got hurt as a result, and no one was penalizing me (other than me). Having finally grasped this concept, I was able to see the big picture, and I recognized the learning process that I went through. This is something that can be applied to any aspect of a job, or even in life. Rather than focusing solely on the end result, it’s important to understand the entire process, and what was learned during that process. Taking the time to analyze why the failure occurred and how to prevent it in the future is invaluable.
Giving up might be the easy way out, but it’s not nearly as rewarding as dusting yourself off and trying again. I know I plan to do just that when I sit for the exam again in December.
