Imagine the fear that the first ship of Vikings faced as they crossed the Atlantic to find North America. Fear of thirst, savage seas, monsters, scurvy, getting lost, and maybe even falling off the face of the earth! I am sure that the leader of that ship had to quell these fears on a daily basis.
Today's business environment is very similar. Fear of competition, the global economy, benefit costs, fair wages, keeping and finding quality people, having cash in the bank, and many more... Yes, you as the leader think of these things constantly, but remember that your employees think the same things. They are on the same ship and have the same fears.
The strong leader creates an environment where these fears can be discussed, minimized, and even laughed at (similar to the scene in Forrest Gump during the hurricane). As the leader, every move you make is scrutinized, watched, and interpreted into the employees daily life. The wise leader understands this and is conscious of how their actions impact the organization. You as the leader are key to creating an organization that is free from fear. You lead the way to minimize fear by exemplifying trust, communication, sharing of knowledge, and forgiveness.
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