How to Enhance your Ability to Take Risks
Are you a Risk Taker or a Risk Avoider?
We take risks every day. Some common risks are walking across a crowded intersection, driving your car, or speaking out on issues you believe in. Most of us can handle these risks with little or no problem. But, what about the risk we need to take to move ahead in our personal and professional lives? Lots of people view this type of risk taking negatively.
Achieving your goals, both lifetime and immediate, requires you to take risks. But to be effective, you must enhance your ability to take risks rationally and appropriately. You need a positive attitude toward risk taking that allows you to learn and grow.
To build such an attitude, ask yourself what you might gain, as well as lose, by taking a risk. Determine how the risk might affect your long-term personal and professional goals. Become fully aware of the facts surrounding the risk. Remove any blinders. Increase the number of well thought-out, calculated risks you take. Develop confidence in your ability to deal with the results and learn from the experience.
Write down a risk you are currently facing, or anticipate facing in the near future, and answer these questions:
- What level of risk is it (low, moderate or high)?
- What do I want the results to be?
- What concerns do I have about taking this risk?
- What will I gain or lose if I take this risk?
- How can I minimize my losses?
- What options do I have in taking this risk?
- How can I move the risk from a high level to a moderate level?
- Do I need expert advice or assistance?
“Whether it is a risk in your personal or professional life, the idea is to plan. Planning organizes the process into manageable steps, reduces anxiety and increases your chance of success.” ~ Linda Coleman-Willis
