Fear shows up in the workplace in more ways than we realize—from avoiding a difficult conversation to navigating uncertainty around mergers and acquisitions, new technology and AI. For leaders, leaving those concerns unaddressed can come at a significant cost. In this episode, Brandon and Randy unpack what drives fear, how it can hold leaders and teams back and practical strategies for moving through it with courage.
1:30 The “big deal” about fear. Randy highlights an important piece of research from HBR: 70% of employees say they avoid difficult conversations.
4:00 Fear of change: Brandon and Randy address major challenges we’re seeing in the workplace today.
6:00 The root causes of fear: lack of confidence, lack of experience and a concern for how other people will react.
10:00 Randy shares examples from different levels of leadership.
18:30 The role of a manager.
22:30 The antidote to fear is courage.
25:00 The benefits of a growth mindset.
27:30 Randy explains how curiosity and active listening can help leaders move through fear.
30:00 Brandon challenges leaders to “model a life well lived.”
37:00 The cost of unaddressed fears.
38:00 Leader CTA: What is one courageous thing you can do tomorrow?
Show Resources:
- Check out these books from our founders, mentioned in today’s episode.
- Other books mentioned include Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Dr. Carol Dweck
- Looking for additional guidance to drive leadership within your teams? Email: bsmith@myleadershipfoundry.com and rhain@myleadershipfoundry.com
- Never miss an episode – subscribe to The Leadership Foundry Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play.
