Escape the Traps in Your Head

Bait makes traps attractive.

Smart people fall into predictable traps.

The snares that snag you live in your head.

3 Attractive Traps

#1. The Trap of Imagined Fear

What if the conversation in your head isn’t as bad as you imagine? Don’t rehearse disasters that never happen. Lived experience is usually less dreadful than rehearsed anxiety.

• Action Item: Speak honestly.

What if you’re over-preparing for low-probability threats? Anticipating problems is useful, but not if that’s all you do.

• Action Item: Press forward.

#2. The Trap of Approval-Seeking

What if people approved of you? How would you spend your energy?

• Action Item: Serve freely.

What if you stopped feeling sorry for yourself? Reclaim energy when you let go of self-pity, anger, or resentment.

• Action Item: Release disappointment.

#3. The Trap of Perfectionism

What if you’re imperfect? Knowledge, skills, and talents can always improve. Imperfection is a starting line.

• Action Item: Bring what you have.

What if you thought less about the scoreboard and more about the next play?

• Action Item: Show up to serve.

What if the perfect set of circumstances doesn’t exist? You’re waiting for the stars to align, but they aren’t cooperating. Now what?

• Action Item: Stay busy.

Obvious traps are easily avoided. The deadly ones masquerade as wisdom.

Which trap hits closest to home for you?

20 Dangerous Traps Intelligent Leaders Stumble into by Accident

5 Snares to Avoid as You Gain Power as a Leader HBR