“Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozy, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.” Billie Jean King
What is it that sometimes holds us back from bold action? Recently a client needed to make a bold move at work to take her team in a stronger direction, but she just couldn’t seem to do it. Each week there was always another reason why it wasn’t the right time, another explanation of what needed to be in place before she could act, another bit of data she wanted to gather so that she could be absolutely certain that the move was the best move to make.
In the tennis metaphor, she was standing in the middle of the tennis court, unwilling or unable to hit the balls flying toward her. What was preventing her from hitting the ball? From making the bold move that was necessary? Our coaching revealed what lie at the heart of her inaction – her fear underneath it. “What if I’m wrong?” she asked. “What if it’s a mistake?”
These are legitimate and necessary questions and they deserve to be looked at…thoroughly. Then there are times when you simply have to hit the ball. To take the next step. To be bold and move ahead, even if the choice you make may be somewhat off and your ball travels out of bounds, or entirely off and you hit the umpire. Our bold actions move us forward – or help us learn where we’re off course.
Find the fear that may be holding you back from action and pull it apart. Ask yourself “what’s the worst thing that can happen from this?” Even if it’s a doozy of an error, hit the ball.
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