Flight, Fight, or Freeze: Making Productive Choices in Your Leadership Journey
As a new manager, stepping into your role brings excitement but also potential fear. These fears can challenge your confidence and affect your progress if left unchecked. You’ve probably heard of the flight, fight, or freeze response—the instinctive ways we respond to fear. But have you ever considered how these responses shape your professional journey? Your attitude and choices in the face of challenges determine your path and growth as a manager.
Understanding Your Fear Responses
Your attitude towards challenges is shaped by past experiences, perceptions and your current mindset. When faced with a daunting goal or difficult task, you might feel compelled to either:
- Take Flight – Choose the easy way out, abandoning the goal.
- Freeze – Stagnate, feeling overwhelmed by the goal without taking action.
- Fight – Embrace the challenge head-on and work through the fear.
In my book The Step Up Mindset for New Managers, I encourage new managers to reflect on their natural response patterns. This awareness is the first step to choosing productive responses in the face of fear.
Flight: Understanding When to Let Go or Reassess
If you tend to take flight, ask yourself: “Why is this my default choice? Is my goal clear and motivating?” Sometimes, the issue isn’t the goal itself but how you frame it. For instance, a vague statement like “I want another job” lacks direction and can make it harder to act on. Try to reframe your goal to make it more specific, compelling, and rewarding. This will help you stay motivated and overcome the temptation to abandon it.
Fight: Embracing a Growth Mindset
Choosing to fight is the hallmark of a manager stepping up to embrace their role. When you understand why a goal is important and recognise the value in reaching it, you’re ready to commit fully. To choose “fight” means you’re embracing growth, prepared to learn from setbacks, and resilient in the face of fear. In doing so, you’re cultivating a strong, proactive mindset that will fuel your career progression.
Freeze: The Danger of Inaction
Freezing can be the most toxic of all, leaving you in a state of perpetual inaction. You may find yourself fixating on the goal without moving toward it. When you’re frozen, you’re likely torn between wanting to achieve the goal and fearing the steps involved. If this sounds familiar, pause and take a moment to breathe. Reflect on your motivations and redefine your goal in a way that energises you to act.
Final Thoughts
Fear is a natural part of any growth journey, and recognising how you react to it can empower you to choose actions that propel you forward. Remember, every choice you make as a new manager shapes your mindset and influences your growth. Will you fight for your goals, freeze in uncertainty, or take flight? Choose wisely, and take charge of your journey.
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