Do you find yourself constantly making excuses as to why your career hasn’t advanced? Are you feeling stuck in your job, but not enough to look for a new one?  The root of these excuses is fear.  Fear keeps people from growing and changing.  It stops you from taking the next step and achieving your dreams.  The first step to overcoming your fears is to identify what they are.  Here are a few of the most common fears that keep employees from achieving their full potential.

Fear of Failure.
The most common of all fears is the fear of failure.  We are wired to believe that it’s not okay to fail.  Often times we don’t take risks in our job or take the next leap in our career because we’re scared of failure. When you see an opportunity to make a building process more efficient, but don’t say anything because you’re not 100% certain your solution is the best one; you’re really just afraid of your idea failing.  Just remember, all highly successful leaders have failed over and over.  Failure should not be feared, but welcomed as an opportunity to grow.

Fear of Success.
Opposite of the fear of failure is the fear of succeeding.  What will happen when you achieve your goals? Will you be disappointed?  Will there be more pressure?  Many people become overwhelmed by not knowing what will happen when they actually achieve their goals, and therefore sabotage efforts to be successful.  Don’t let the fear of success keep you from achieving your fullest potential.  When you find you are overwhelmed, remind yourself that you are worthy of and ready for success.

Fear of Leading.
Many people are afraid of the responsibility that comes along with a leadership position, because in a leadership position you’re responsible for outcomes that impact the people you are guiding.  Instead of trusting their intuition to guide them, many employees would rather have someone else be the leader.  Being offered a leadership position should be an affirmation that others have instilled faith in you.  If they believe you can do the job, you should believe in yourself as well.

Fear of Embarrassment.
Nobody likes being embarrassed.  However, embarrassment is only as bad as you allow for it to be.  Making mistakes publicly can seem awful, but you should not let yourself feel ashamed.  Don’t look at mishaps as mistakes, but as opportunities to learn and grow.  Inaction due to fear can wind up being more embarrassing than putting all your effort into a project.

Fear of Asking for What You Want.
Another reason many people don’t move quickly up the job ladder, is they’re afraid to ask for it.  If you want more responsibility in your job, ask your manager if there’s anything else you can take on.  Do you feel like you deserve a promotion or raise? Talk to your boss and make a case for why you deserve it.  The employees that get noticed are the ones that show interest in new opportunities and talk to managers about their needs.   If you’re too afraid to ask, the answer will always be no.

Recognizing your fear is the first step to overcoming it. Getting over your fear is the key to a successful career in the engineering and construction industries.  Take the next step towards a successful career by contacting a recruiter at RealStreet Staffing. Or, visit our career page to find open positions in the engineering and construction management fields.