| Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve | | | | Overcome fears |
| greatly.” | | | | You can add value to your business by taking |
| — Robert F. Kennedy | | | | calculated intelligent risks that pays off. Being |
| The present business scenario calls for leaders who | | | | skeptical about risk is a natural phenomena but |
| can make quick decisions. In this fast paced era | | | | holding yourself back due to the fear of risk is not |
| where everyone is competing hard to stay on top, | | | | wise and will not let you propel in your career. Hence |
| any delay in decision making may lead to losing a | | | | instead of fearing the risk concentrate on analyzing it. |
| prospect. Thus taking risk has become an integral | | | | Roll the dice |
| part of business. Taking risks to make sound | | | | After much thinking and calculations you finally decide |
| professional judgment demonstrates strong | | | | to leave your comfort zone. Now what? Just take |
| leadership abilities and implies that you have all it | | | | the plunge. No risk is right or wrong in and of itself. |
| takes to handle more interesting, challenging work. | | | | The key lies in judging a situation, determining |
| The word risk has hint of negativity to it — it | | | | intelligent risks and taking them provide an evidence |
| implies a source of danger; a possibility of loss, | | | | of strong leadership abilities and sound judgment. If |
| damage or misfortune, as a result of which most | | | | for some reason, it doesn’t work out the way it |
| people are afraid of taking risks as they are reluctant | | | | should have been then learn from your misjudgment |
| to afford any loss. However risk has a positive side | | | | and try to be more reasonable next time. |
| too: the chance of hitting a big win. Although, there | | | | Change is good |
| always lies a fear of failure yet possibilities of | | | | Taking intelligent risks involves accepting change and |
| personal growth, increased confidence, and higher | | | | trusting the unknown. Thus, to be a good risk taker |
| visibility are few of the outcomes. Being worried of | | | | and eventually improve your performance you must |
| taking risks is okay, however to completely refrain | | | | readily adapt to the changing environment. In the |
| yourself from taking risk is a bad idea. If you take a | | | | contemporary world of business, success strategies |
| close look at the career of the most successful | | | | changes regularly. If you are reluctant to embrace |
| people in the world, you will clearly find that they all | | | | the change you may fall back in the race to stay on |
| are risk takers. | | | | top. The idea is to take risk and accept change. |
| Not taking chances and playing it safe always may | | | | Sticking to your old strategies may prove to be a |
| not be as safe as it seems. If you don’t risk it, | | | | hindrance in showcasing your talent. |
| you don’t get the chance of making it big. | | | | Reap the benefits |
| However, not all risks are worth taking. Some risks | | | | Taking intelligent risks has direct impact on |
| are just dumb and suicidal where as others are | | | | performance improvement. The ability to take risks |
| intelligent. Risks, where the expected payoff is | | | | demonstrates strong leadership qualities. If the risk |
| negative, should never be taken. Hence the two | | | | taken turns out to be a successful endeavor then |
| types of risks are: | | | | you would achieve your desired result without much |
| 1. Calculated and planned risk – Intelligent Risk | | | | difficulty. |
| 2. Unprofessional and impractical risks – Dumb | | | | Given below is the list of some of the risks which are |
| Risk | | | | not worth taking. Avoid making these as they could |
| Often an intelligent risk brings new opportunities. If | | | | be suicidal to your career. |
| you find discomfort and hesitant in doing something | | | | 1. Sticking on to the job despite the fact that you |
| beyond your comfort zone, congratulations! This | | | | hate it. Staying unhappy on a job lowers your |
| means a new opportunity is around the corner. The | | | | productivity and hampers performance. Moreover, if |
| key to take intelligent risk is to think way ahead. | | | | you want to quit, leave on friendly terms. Screaming |
| When you think in long-term, your find your | | | | and complaining on your way out is not worth it. |
| failures’ being outnumbered by your successes | | | | 2. Not doing your homework properly before taking |
| and this keeps you from getting discouraged. | | | | the plunge. Without proper analysis a decision which |
| Through intelligent risks you can improve your | | | | looks lucrative and foolproof may turn out to be |
| performance and excel in your career. Here is | | | | disaster. Don’t assume that you know it all you |
| how… | | | | need to. There is no harm in recalculating your |
| Find out the odds | | | | chances and confirming your decision. |
| Take a good look at your career and decide what | | | | 3. Losing visibility. Stay in spotlight and keep yourself |
| you really want. Do you want to advance in your | | | | well informed of your company’s policies, |
| current organization? Do you want to move to | | | | procedures, stability, business strategies and business |
| another organization, either in a lateral move or to a | | | | endeavors. Shrinking to the background will make you |
| more senior position? Or would you like a different | | | | invisible may result in you not being credited for your |
| type of role, such as running a business unit? | | | | efforts. |
| Find out where you stand in your career and what | | | | 4. Avoiding challenges and added responsibilities. Seek |
| you have to lose or gain if you take risk. Carefully | | | | out challenges and accept responsibilities. However, |
| analyze the impact of the risk on your career. By | | | | not all responsibilities are worth taking. Accept a |
| taking a risk how will demonstrate your leadership | | | | responsibility only if you are sure that it will earn you |
| skills or professional judgment? If you look at a risk | | | | recognition. Weigh your options before you opt for it. |
| as if your entire career depends on it then the | | | | 5. Tampering the truth. If you are caught you will be |
| nervousness will not let you proceed. However, if | | | | fired. Be a straight shooter and keep your career |
| you approach it as a step to fulfill your career goal in | | | | safe. |
| the long run then you will not find it so risky. | | | | |