Most of us feel fear at one time or another, but successful people refuse to let it overcome them. You can learn to control your fear and advance in your career with these advice:

• Explore your memories. Look back over your career. What situations have made you feel afraid? Do you see any common denominators? When was the last time you were afraid of something and did it anyway?
• Look at your responsibilities. You have a lot of priorities in your life. Which ones make you fearful? Why are you afraid of them? Dig deeply, asking “why” at least five times to get at the root of your fear.
• Construct a worst-case scenario. When a certain situation makes you nervous, try to think of the worst thing that could realistically happen. Chances are the reality won’t be as devastating as you think, and examining the possibilities ahead of time will prepare you to avoid the potential pitfalls.
• Shift your focus. When you’re confronted by a task that makes you fearful, stop and think about all the positive benefits it will produce in the end. Focus on those instead of what’s making you feel scared.
• Try new things. At least once a month, take on a new task or a different responsibility. This will increase your capacity to take risks.
• Review your risks. Look at some of the risks you’ve taken recently. Chances are, most of them turned out OK. Figure out what made them work. Think about what actions you took that ensured success, and how you can duplicate those actions and decisions in other situations.