These are troubling times in business.  The global economic outlook is uncertain and with uncertainty comes anxiety, worry, fear, stress.

Firstly, if you are experiencing paralysing fear, anxiety, stress or worry right now, I wanted to reassure you that it’s normal to encounter such feelings, even when we’re not faced with such negative cycles of news, and especially so when we are.  I also wanted to reassure you that you are not alone.

This is a genuine concern shared by some of my clients with one in particular feeling as if they are in paralysis. Stuck in a freeze response this client has felt unable to take strategic decisions that they once would have taken with ease.

Did you know that the human brain prefers known and certain pain compared to an uncertain outcome, even if the uncertainty may yield a better outcome than the current negative situation?!

Our brains are wired towards certainty.  This predisposition can sometimes cause us to operate in ways which can sabotage our businesses, conversely prioritising certainty over a better outcome.

And did you also know that the human brain has a tendency to overestimate the likelihood of a “bad thing” happening and overestimate the negative impact should that bad thing occur?

Being vigilant is useful in your business when you are aware of the true risks and threats to your success and when you take considered and proportionate action to mitigate them.  But being hyper-vigilant where everything is perceived as a threat or a risk is analogous to the boy who cried wolf.  In this situation, you are more likely to miss the real risk and cause actual harm to your business in so doing.

History teaches us time and time again that no one, not even the best analysts, stock brokers, hedge fund managers and economists can predict the future. Yet our unconscious minds would have us think that if we “just did that thing” or we “spent more time worrying or figuring things out” or “just waited a little bit longer until we have more information” that we would somehow be able to mitigate whatever fear or worst case scenario we are imagining.

Can you relate to this?!

So in business, there is a balance to be struck as to how much time and energy we invest in horizon scanning and assessing the external operating context vs. ignoring the news, burying our heads in the sand and pretending everything will be “just fine”.

What if there was a way that you could harness this anxiety and fear and use it to double down on the things which you can control and which will move your business forwards?

How would it be if you could operate with more confidence and assuredness about where you were placing your precious time, energy and focus?

When we don’t address our fear, it controls us. So let me introduce you to one of the most tried and tested tools that I have been using with my clients a lot recently and which has been part of my armoury for over two decades, to help you figure out where to spend your energy, efforts and valuable resources.

You can access the tool with a simple guide on how to use it here:

These activities are not just for insurers or risk management professionals.  Spending a bit of dedicated time identifying and evaluating the risks to your business is one of the best ways of gaining a sense of control that is proportionate, enabling you to take measured action in an aligned way.

What worst case scenarios are you worrying about in your business right now?  Might you benefit from an experienced professional asking you the right questions to enable you to get some clarity and gain some control?

Why not get in touch to explore how I can help: