Overcoming a Fear of Failure When Your Board Is the Cause

Have you ever asked a child what they wanted to be when they grew up? Kids have the most imaginative ways of expressing their goals. Perhaps their answer sounded something like this—a TikTok famous veterinarian who writes songs, dances, and acts.

Most children have extraordinary confidence. While we largely encourage them to pursue their dreams and tell them they can be anything they set their minds to, it’s sad that many times, we don’t believe that to be true in our own careers.

When was the last time that you worried about your job?

Last month? This week? Yesterday? Today?

Do you have a ton of ideas for your chamber, but are you afraid to implement them? Are you worried your ideas won’t work or won’t garner the support they need to be successful?

Trying something new always feels uncomfortable, especially if your board is filled with naysayers and gloomy Gusses. As chamber pros, some of us work with provincial boards that don’t want to blaze an innovative path.

While you want to see the chamber succeed, and you know that means trying something new, convincing your board that you can be successful through innovation can make you wonder if the possible success is worth the headache.

If you succeed, you will have met the board’s expectations. If not, you will become a cautionary tale.

No wonder you fear failure!

Overcoming Your Fear of Failure

Overcoming the fear of failure caused by your board can be challenging, but there are several strategies you can employ to build confidence and resilience:

Reframe Your Perspective

Instead of viewing potential failures as threats, try to see them as opportunities for growth and learning. Remember that everyone, including your board, makes mistakes and experiences setbacks. If your board members are successful businesspeople, they will have experienced failure. Some of them may have weathered bankruptcies and business closures.

Don’t dwell on what could go wrong. Focus on what you can learn from the experience. As Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. Waste is worse than loss.”

Practice Self-Compassion

Be kind to yourself when facing challenges or setbacks. Avoid negative self-talk and treat yourself with the compassion you would offer a friend or a member who had a business failure.

When a local business struggles, do you think it is incompetent? If its SWOT analysis leaves out a possibility, do you refuse to do business with it again? Of course not. You cheer it on and encourage it.

Recognize that your worth is not determined by your board's opinion or individual failures.

Break Down Goals

Large, daunting tasks can amplify the fear of failure. Break your work into smaller, more manageable steps. This approach can help reduce anxiety and allow you to focus on incremental progress rather than worrying about the overwhelming outcome.

If you aim to bring on 20 new members in a year, you don’t do that by praying or wishing. You create tasks and tactics that will lead to those desired results. Some will work, some won’t. Once you know which is which, you can do more of the ones that yield the desired return.

Seek Support

Don't isolate yourself. Reach out to colleagues (the Chamber Pros Facebook group is a great way to stay connected to peers who understand what you’re going through), mentors, board champions, or trusted friends for support and perspective. They may offer valuable insights or provide a sympathetic ear. Sometimes, talking through your fear can help diminish its power.

Document Your Successes

Record your achievements, no matter how small. Keep an email folder of the compliments you receive from members or people in the community. Review them when you need to.

This can serve as a reminder of your capabilities when self-doubt creeps in. Reflecting on past successes boosts your confidence and proves you are competent and valuable.

Communicate with Your Board

If you believe your fears are grounded in a negative view on your work, have an open and honest conversation with your board about your concerns. Express your desire to improve (if you think you need to) and ask for specific, constructive feedback. This can help clarify expectations and improve your working relationship.

Like any employee, you should receive yearly performance reviews. It’s possible that your fear of failure is based on your own concerns (possibly tainted by Imposter Syndrome) and not on the board’s lack of confidence in you.

However, it’s easy to question yourself when others are questioning you. When you are afraid of their judgments, you may also be quick to make mistakes because of the perceived scrutiny. Having an open conversation about this during your review may help you both understand the impact of fear and micromanagement on performance.

Set Boundaries

Sometimes, what you need to feel sure (and less scared) is to set boundaries with your board. You can do this by:

Clarify Priorities and Expectations. Work with the board to clearly define chamber priorities and responsibilities. This will help you focus on what's essential and avoid taking on more than you can handle.

Communicate Your Workload/Projects. Be prepared and confident when discussing your workload with your board. Use "I" statements to express your perspective without sounding confrontational. For example, say, "I feel overwhelmed with my current workload, and taking on additional events would compromise the quality of what we’re currently hosting."

Offer Alternatives. Instead of simply saying 'no' to what they are sure will work for whatever challenge they’ve brought up, propose alternative solutions when faced with new tasks or requests. This demonstrates your commitment to finding mutually beneficial resolutions.

Educate Your Board. Sometimes fear of failure stems from a lack of support from your board. This may, in turn, come from their involvement in an area where they don’t belong. In these cases, you may need to bring in a board educator or trainer to help them understand the part of chamber operations they should be involved with and what isn’t in their purview.

Request One-on-One Meetings. Request private one-on-one meetings if your board chair consistently disregards your concerns in group settings. This dedicated time allows for more focused conversations where you can express your concerns without interruptions.

Focus on Personal Growth

Shift your focus from pleasing your board to improving your skills and knowledge. Set personal development goals within your control, regardless of your board's approval. This can help you feel more empowered and less dependent on external validation.

If you set the need to please them aside, you may discover that the environment you’re working in is toxic and not best for your personal growth. This may be a painful discovery, but a worthwhile lesson.

Prioritize Well-being

Commercial success isn't the only measure of a well-lived life. Prioritize your physical and mental health to build resilience against work-related stress and fear. Fear and anxiety can paralyze you and make you less effective as a leader. If you let fear of failure dominate your thinking, you will bring your fears to fruition.

Remember, overcoming the fear of failure is a process that takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself as you build your confidence and resilience in the face of chamber challenges (and—for your own peace of mind—keep an eye on when the board members term out and create a countdown clock at home if you need to).

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