5 Signs You're Afraid of Greatness

Does this sound familiar?

• You marvel at others in meetings who are so cool under pressure.  You admire the people in your life who are making a difference through their work.  You’re in awe of those who have the respect of the room.
• And you wish you could do it as effortlessly as they do.

 
It’s not that you don’t have great qualities (you so do), but it may be time to check in and see if you’re backing away from your own greatness.  
 
Here are 5 signs you’re doing just that.

• You avoid the limelight…and the spotlight.  It can feel excruciating to be the center of attention (even for a short period), but at work you need to put yourself out there.  If this feels like it’s “way too much”, consider doing it on a smaller scale.  Speak one-on-one to someone you trust about your big idea rather than bringing it up in a group meeting.

 

• Your expectations change.  Anyone who's had even a small taste of success can immediately identify with the little voice in their head that said, “How are you going to top this (or keep it up)?” Moving the needle on your performance can also change what people expect of you (or you expect of yourself).  Deep breath, you got yourself this far, enjoy the moment – it’s not like you are in the Olympics and need to beat your own World Record at the next event.  Take it as it comes and don’t get too far ahead of yourself.

 

• You are afraid of the critics.  With more success comes more visibility and with more visibility comes more criticism.  Some of it will be constructive and promote growth for you.  Some of it may be based on jealousy.  Haters gonna hate, just make sure you’re not one of them (being overly critical of yourself).

 

• You believe success = more work.  Standing out in all the right ways is empowering, and it may also mean more work comes your way.  Be discerning – if the work is interesting and supports where you’re going in your career, think about the opportunity it represents.  If not, you can always say no.  Don’t know how to say no?  Check out next week’s blog.

 

• You’ll have to become someone you’re not.  If being successful demands that you be someone you’re not, you’re not likely to be successful for long (history is littered with people who’ve tried… John DeLorean is a good example).  You have greatness in you (we all do), embrace it by showcasing what you’re good at with authenticity. You are enough just the way you are.

 
If you have any of these 5 signs (and it would be human if you did), this can help.  Sit down and consider what success looks like for you.  It’s not something we put a lot of time into, so write down your vision of success (and make sure it is yours, and not what you think others want).
 
Then, write down the barriers to achieving that vision of success and ways you can overcome them.  This then becomes the beginning of your plan to step into your greatness.  It will feel weird calling it that, but get used to the boldness of it, because where you’re going requires the courage to be bold.
 
And, if that isn’t enticing you to be a bit more visible, remember, someone at some time was looking at you too and thinking “Wow, it must be so great to be able to do that so effortlessly…”.  
 
Each of us was created with a purpose, never doubt that you have greatness in you, or how much the world needs it.

Afraid to show your greatness at work?  I have strategies to make this comfortable and effortless.

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