This week’s conversation with Founder and CEO Krista Carroll explored why avoiding a fear mindset is essential for growth.

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I love a good quote, especially when it really hits home. I can’t recall who said it, but this one, given what is going on in the world today, feels particularly relevant right now: “Fear is a liar. It whispers worst case scenarios and steals today’s peace.” Of course, we wouldn’t be human if we hadn’t all felt fear at some point. At work, it can take many forms: the tightening in the chest before a budget decision, second-guessing bold creative work, or the ongoing worry about our people. Are they fulfilled? Can I provide stable, secure careers for everyone on the team? As business leaders, we’re wired to be cautious which can be prudent and needed sometimes, but caution is different from fear. When fear takes over and becomes a mindset it changes who we are and who we want to be with staff, colleagues, clients and even loved ones at home. I’ve never made a good decision when it’s come from a place of fear. The good news is that if we have faith in our ability to change and conquer it, fear is not fixed. When we recognize it and tackle the root causes, we can adopt some ways that can help us stay true to the people and business leaders we want to be.

Name the fear and then ground it

We can’t do anything if we don’t first acknowledge the fear. It stops us showing up for our friends and family when they may need us. And it starts to roadblock the real decisions we need to make in our daily work lives. As a business leader it’s crucial to recognize the things that create a fear mindset in our teams (as well as for us) and above all be transparent. In uncertain times it’s especially important to be honest about what you know of a situation, an event or some news just shared with staff or your team. Sometimes taking a deliberately strategic approach to contextualizing fear can help. Don’t just track the bad news like downturns or missed new business. Set and measure KPIs that you can show – and prove – what’s working: morale, team and individual achievements and other wins in workplace culture. Above all model vulnerability as a leader to show we are all human, while also demonstrating resolve and resilience.

Remind yourself (and your team) what you’re capable of doing

Fear makes us forget the journey we’ve all been on. The good things and the ones that didn’t work out how we planned, but helped us learn along the way. I always think internal storytelling is so important. Take the time with staff and colleagues to celebrate small weekly wins in difficult or changing times. And it’s important to not just praise outcomes – but the real effort people make: creativity, teamwork, and out of the box thinking or bravery. If you do anything to bolster confidence at work, think about ways to create internal storytelling. Encourage teams to share behind the scenes journeys of how great work came to life to help inspire others, but also to remind staff that they are achieving, they are doing rewarding work and getting meaningful results.

Reignite freedom of thought beyond just what’s safe

At Latitude, we always try to approach our work or a challenge in terms of no limits. Fear can make us default to the easy things we know work. There’s a creative comfort that comes from adapting old ideas or staying in the safe zone. But I’ve seen first-hand how it’s new creativity and untested thinking that really get teams and clients excited. We focus on the notion that ideas come from anywhere and everyone. So we take down the guardrails and approach a problem or challenge without thinking about timing or budget or factors to make it fail. This open, positive brainstorming can work outside of the office too, and help all of us dream big.

Ask, is there opportunity even in moments of doubt?

Some industries are going through real times of change. Take Healthcare for example. We’ve been at work helping Winona Health through an integrated campaign “We Care More” shows how they focus on their patients as individuals. It’s a brand reposition designed to elevate awareness about Winona’s high standards of care in an environment when consumers are demanding more involvement, more personalized attention and communications. The message here is that even in turbulent times, or when the dynamics of a business seem worrying, there’s opportunity for optimism and reinvention for us, our clients and then brands. The fear mindset makes us pull back, but often jumping in with both feet and new ideas can re-energize and change our perspective.

Why abandoning a fear mindset matters right now

According to Gallup, employees who feel their leaders are optimistic and forward thinking are 63% more likely to stay and be engaged. McKinsey agrees: companies who invest boldly during uncertainty outperform others by 47%. Of course beating the fear mindset is not all about hard business numbers. It’s about people – letting your coworkers, teams and direct reports know that they’re seen and heard. I launched Latitude during the great recession, and we’ve tried ever since to never let doubt, uncertainty or fear guide the decisions we make. We’ve grown but that’s been because we invested in people – and also purpose, looking for ways to give to the community and causes we care about.