Fear Of Entrepreneurship: How It Arises And What To Do
The fear of entrepreneurship is a phenomenon that many professionals must face before starting a project; The way a person manages their emotions in a situation like this can make a difference in a key moment like this.
But… What are the possible causes of fear of entrepreneurship, and what to do about it? Let’s see it.
Psychological elements that lead to the appearance of fear of undertaking
These are some psychological phenomena that could be behind the fear of truly betting on an entrepreneurial project.
1. Emotional stagnation
One of the psychological barriers that many people who intend to start a business encounter is the emotional stagnation linked to the lifestyle they want to escape from. Both unemployment and certain salaried jobs that are too monotonous can generate this phenomenon of apathy and demotivation, from which any perspective of change is as intimidating as it is exciting, or more so.
That is why The problem of fear of entrepreneurship cannot be faced without taking into account the emotional state generated by the context to which the person is exposed in his or her daily life Thinking about launching your own business while being in a start-up where you are in constant contact with new ideas and professionals is not the same as being in the company where you have been working for a decade doing the same thing.
Analysis paralysis occurs when people do not leave the phase of posing hypothetical future situations and deciding what to do in each case. That is Those who have a problem with analysis paralysis can’t stop thinking about the same ideas, not daring to take the definitive step to take action. In these cases, taking refuge in these “mental simulations” about what could happen is a way of taking refuge from what generates anxiety: the situation of testing one’s ideas and exposing oneself to failures (or triumphs).
3. Anxiety linked to uncertainty
This is another aspect of the fear of entrepreneurship that is related to psychological rumination, that is, the act of turning over the same idea over and over again, but without being able to change anything.
Uncertainty leads some people to focus all their attention on the fact that they lack information , with hardly any opportunity to put into action the resources they do have (and what they do know). In this way, this tendency to speculate about what could or could not happen transforms into anxiety and catastrophic predictions, which feeds fear.
4. Conformity bias
Another psychological aspect to take into account is conformity bias. Many people who think about whether it is best for them to start a business interact mainly with people with jobs that are very similar, either because they are part of a company’s team of employees, or because they work in conventional jobs in which the margin of uncertainty and experimentation is limited. is reduced. Given this, It is easy to settle into what is well known and give up trying alternatives that involve taking several steps beyond what most people are doing; Many times, social pressure plays a role in this.
The very definition of the term “undertake” implies that each case is different, so if in the field of psychology in general it is assumed that each person is a world, this is especially true when it comes to the phenomenon of entrepreneurship. Precisely for this reason, in the face of emotional and behavioral problems linked to the fear of entrepreneurship, it is best to have the help of a psychologist who will supervise each particular case, taking into account the characteristics of the person, their aspirations, the type of work they are pursuing. is exposed, etc.
However, it is possible to rely on a series of key ideas that can serve as references and guidelines to take into account to overcome those initial nerves when faced with the challenge of launching your own business
1. Establish a personal and professional SWOT
The SWOT analysis can help put the positive and negative aspects of the entrepreneurship project into perspective. Thus you will have a vision of both the risks and the opportunities and the former will be less likely to eclipse the latter.
2. Set deadlines
It is very important to organize time so that the process of collecting information, analyzing and launching the project does not take forever. For it, use visual tools such as flowcharts , and set short, medium and long-term deadlines. This way you won’t be so exposed to the temptation of postponing everything. Above all, it is very important that you clearly limit the stage of collecting information and making initial strategic decisions, so as not to fall into analysis paralysis.
Action triggers are based on the habit of being very clear about the times and places that are linked to the beginning of an activity That way, you will use those references to take action, so that you are always working on your project instead of thinking about what makes you anxious. For example, establish that each day after taking your kids to school, you will come home and sit at your work desk, with no significant intermediate steps.
Are you looking for psychotherapy services?
If you are interested in having the support of a psychologist to learn to manage anxiety or fear of entrepreneurship, contact me. I am an expert psychologist in the cognitive-behavioral model and I work with both individuals and companies, either in person in Madrid or online.
