Fear Of Failure Trap

Don't Let Mistakes Get In Way Of Your Dreams, Experts Say

When it comes to a woman's career, fear of failure can back them into a corner that's tough to get out of.

Fear Of Failure Trap

Women need to pay attention to some advice so they don't fall victim to this trap, especially since experience in a profit-and-loss position is essential for women to succeed in the corporate world.

"If you want to be running a company down the road, even your own company, you really should have a profit and loss responsibility, but with women, fear of failure means they will not take on a line responsibility. We overcompensate because we realize we're the minority in corporations," said Janice Reals Ellig, author of "What Every Successful Woman Knows."

Karima Zaki is the general manager of the Doubletree Hotel in San Diego, Calif. She ventured into a career few women dare to pursue.

"There weren't any women that were general managers in the whole company. I would just tell people, 'See that position? That's what I want to do,'" she said.

But as she climbed the corporate ladder, her aspirations didn't always meet with approval.

"The response to my being in the hotel industry was not unusual. What was unusual was when I said I wanted to be a general manager, and then it was a mixture of scorn to an extent," Zaki said.

That scorn did stir up some fears in her, she said.

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"You have a terrible fear of failing and not living up to what people's expectations are."

Fear of not meeting those expectations often results in self-sabotage.

Ellig offers this advice to keep you from falling in the fear of failure trap:

• Be willing to get out of your comfort zone and know if you want to succeed, it's going to be uncomfortable.
• If you're lacking certain skills, this can wear on your confidence. So acquire the skills you feel you're lacking by attending workshops to sharpen you skills and boost your confidence.
• Ask those you trust for encouragement. Positive feedback can give you the confidence to move ahead.
• And seek out a mentor who shares in your vision of where you want to be.

Women shouldn't let their mistakes get in the way of their dreams, Ellig said.

"A woman personalizes so much, so I think I would tell women don't try and get it perfect. You don't have to. You have to make some mistakes because those are the lessons that you learn to then do a better job next time," she said.

So cast your fears aside and make your way to the winner's circle.

"Not only can you do it, you'll probably be just as good if not better at it," Zaki said.

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