Jobs @ Career Consulting Limited

Return to career-consulting-limited.com
Managing
People
Managing Your Career
CV Examples
Coaching
Cover Letter Examples
Pre-Employment Tests


Risk-taking - Get Your Feet Wet!


We often use the phrase, "Get Your Feet Wet" when we are just beginning to learn how to do something or are about to pioneer a new initiative. When we participate in a project for the first time, there is usually a hesitancy to step out into the unknown.

There's no better way to learn than by doing. This requires that we move away from our comfort zones and step out into the unknown, which usually exceeds our reach and makes us stretch to get it.

Stepping Out Into the Unknown

The unknown elicits strong emotional responses, the chief of which is fear. We're afraid to take chances or that we will make mistakes. While mistakes are embarrassing, they can be used to jumpstart and enhance our learning. Other reactions to the unknown include:

  • Hesitancy. Being cautious and tentative; playing it safe.
  • Discouragement. Disappointment and worry; backing up and settling for less than our best.
  • Pessimism. Focusing on the problems and challenges instead of the solutions and opportunities.

While the above list is not all inclusive, it is helpful in understanding our emotional response to the unfamiliar?strange?mysterious?uncharted territory. To step out into the unknown requires courage, commitment and conviction.

How to Get Your Feet Wet at Work

  • Courage. Prepare for your next challenge or opportunity by doing your homework. Learn as much as you can and apply that learning when working in indeterminate assignments or dealing with vague requests. Take a leap of faith into the unknown and just do it. Don't wait until everything is perfect and you are entirely ready-physically, emotionally, and financially. You'll never be absolutely and totally ready or ultimately prepared. Most times, you just have to begin, so build up your courage and take the plunge!
  • Commitment. Once you've decided to do it, dedicate yourself to accomplishing the task. It's a good idea to get your feet wet by completing smaller action steps related to the task in order to "test the waters" without expending all your effort and energy at once. In any event, start small and see what works. Make course corrections as necessary, and remain focused and committed to completing the task, overcoming the main challenge, or taking full advantage of the opportunity.
  • Conviction. Cultivate a passion and fervor for the task. Don't doubt or waver in your belief and confidence that you can succeed. Sure, you will make mistakes and encounter problems along the way, but you must be persuaded and have complete assurance that you can jump over these hurdles to achieve the goal.
  • Every day, you embark on a journey into the unknown and experience what seems like a lifetime lived in 24 hours. Don't be afraid to get your feet wet. Your first efforts may not be perfect, but you've got to start somewhere. Use the wisdom you gain from your experiences to strengthen your character and competence, and to prepare for future journeys.

    Althea DeBrule, entrepreneur and seasoned human resources executive, has focused for more than 30 years on helping people achieve their career goals. Creator of The Extreme-Career-Makeover? and a founding partner of RADSGroup Organizational Consultants, she is recognized for her bottom line and practical application of career development and management strategies in a way that penetrates hearts and compels action. She speaks and teaches with inspired talent, humor and contagious zeal at management conferences and leadership retreats nationwide, and has been featured in CFO Magazine, Strategy@Work, Human Resource Executive Magazine. Althea is the author of Bosses & Orchards, a compelling and candid book about how to make your work relationship with your boss succeed. To discover how you can take your career to a new level, visit http://www.extreme-career-makeover.com/


    MORE RESOURCES:



    Careers | Career Opportunities  West Virginia University






    Jobs  City of Rochester (.gov)

    Careers at TWU  Texas Woman's University








    City of Tampa Careers  City of Tampa

    Job Seekers  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign


    Nursing jobs  VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs




    Careers  Washington State University




    Working for ICE  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Newsroom



    UF Health Careers  UF Health - University of Florida Health




    Careers at Prairie View A&M University  Prairie View A&M University

    Job Search Results  UnitedHealth Group

    UN COMMON CAREERS  VCU Health

    Work With Us  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Career Opportunities  Gilead Sciences

    Careers  Medline




    Jobs and internships  Bureau of Transportation Statistics

    Job Opportunities  Bellevue School District

    How to Apply  FEMA



    Careers  Micron

    Careers at Discovery Education  Discovery Education





    Careers  KPMG

    Join our team  FHI 360


    Internship Opportunities | Careers  Boston Consulting Group



    Careers in  A&O Shearman

    Work At Chess.com  Chess.com

    Students and graduates  JPMorgan Chase

    Career Paths  FEMA

    Careers at Balfour Beatty  Balfour Beatty

    Highest-Paying Engineering Careers in 2024  University of North Dakota






    Mental health at work  World Health Organization



    Why Employees Quit  HBR.org Daily

    JobFeed  NSW Department of Education


    Two unis walking the career path alongside graduates  The Australian Financial Review



    Careers  Turner & Townsend

    Current opportunities  Turner & Townsend




    Careers  City of Norfolk (.gov)



    Jobs  Energy.gov

    Careers at King County  King County


    > Careers > Job-listings  National Reconnaissance Office

    Employment Opportunities  Unity Health Toronto

    Jobs  Dublin City University

    Careers  City of Somerville

    Careers  UTSA Today

    Careers at USI  University of Southern Indiana

    Careers with the City of London  City of London, Ontario

    Need More Information?
    Site Home | Site Map | Links | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
    © Career Consulting Limited.com 2011

    tumblr visit counter