Get Promoted Faster in Your Data Science Career: 3 Steps to Overcome Your Fear and Start Doing Things That Scare You
(even if you think that everybody will judge you)
Hey there!
Let’s be real—fear can hold you back, especially when you’re just starting out in your data science career.
I’ve been there myself.
When I first started, I was terrified of speaking up in meetings, worried that I’d say something wrong or look foolish. But if you let fear take the wheel, you’ll miss out on opportunities that could really boost your growth.
Most people try to avoid doing things that scare them. I know I did. I thought if I just stayed in my comfort zone, I wouldn’t have to deal with the stress that comes with facing fears.
But guess what? That’s a recipe for staying stuck and not reaching your full potential.
Understand Why We Care So Much About What Others Think
Here’s the thing: The reason you might be so afraid to take action is because of something called the "spotlight effect."
This is when you believe everyone is paying way more attention to you than they actually are. It’s like you’re constantly under a spotlight, feeling like every move you make is being watched and judged.
I remember my first big presentation at work. I was convinced that everyone would notice if I stumbled over my words or didn’t have the perfect answer to every question. But the truth? Most people are too busy with their own stuff to notice what you’re doing.
When I realized that, it became a lot easier to take on challenges without worrying so much about what others might think.
So, let’s start breaking down these fears with 3 actionable steps.
Step 1: Recognize the Spotlight Effect
This is a big one because once you see how the spotlight effect is messing with your mind, you can start to shake off the fear of judgment.
The spotlight effect makes you think everyone is watching your every move, but that’s rarely the case. Here’s how it played out for me:
Presenting a project: I was terrified that my coworkers would judge every word I said, but they were more focused on their own deadlines. When I finally realized this, I started presenting more confidently.
Asking a question in a meeting: I used to hesitate, thinking everyone would think I didn’t know what I was talking about. In reality, others were probably wondering the same thing or didn’t even notice.
Sharing a new idea: I held back for the longest time because I was afraid my idea wasn’t good enough. But when I finally spoke up, my idea sparked a productive discussion, and I gained more respect from my team.
When you start seeing that people aren’t as focused on you as you thought, it takes a lot of the pressure off. And that’s when you can start taking more risks, which is crucial for growth in your career.
If you don’t get past this spotlight effect, you’ll keep holding back, missing out on chances to contribute valuable ideas or make progress on important projects.
Step 2: Use the 5-Minute Rule
Let’s talk about getting started on things that scare you.
This is where the 5-minute rule comes in, and it’s a game-changer.
The idea is simple: Commit to working on that scary task for just five minutes. No more, no less. This tiny commitment feels manageable, and it often tricks your brain into getting started—once you’re in motion, you’ll likely keep going.
This really helped me when I was struggling to write my first blog post.
The thought of putting my ideas out there for others to critique was paralyzing. So, I set a timer for five minutes and told myself that I only had to write for those five minutes. Once I started, I found it much easier to keep going.
What started as a terrifying task turned into something I actually enjoyed.
Before you jump ahead to tackling big tasks, try this:
Set a timer for 5 minutes and start working on the task you’ve been avoiding.
Focus only on that task during those 5 minutes. Don’t think about what’s next or how much more there is to do.
The 5-minute rule helps you break through that initial resistance. Once you’ve started, you’ll often find that it’s easier to keep going than you expected.
Step 3: Do Things That Scare You Regularly
This is all about building a habit of facing your fears head-on. The more you do it, the less scary it becomes.
I’ve made it a point to do something that scares me at least once a week. Whether it’s volunteering to lead a meeting, pitching a new idea, or even just asking for feedback on my work, I’ve found that the more I do it, the less intimidating it gets.
Don’t rush through this—take the time to regularly challenge yourself with tasks that make you uncomfortable. Here are some questions to guide you:
What’s one thing at work that’s been scaring me?
How can I break it down into smaller, less intimidating steps?
What’s the worst that could happen if I don’t succeed?
What’s the best outcome if I do?
How can I prepare to give myself the best chance of success?
Who can I turn to for support or advice?
By taking the time to answer these questions, you create a clear plan of action. This makes it much easier to approach the task without feeling overwhelmed.
When you regularly take on tasks that scare you, you build confidence and resilience. Plus, it makes the next scary thing seem a little less daunting.
By following these three steps, you’ll start to break the cycle of fear that’s been holding you back:
Recognize that the spotlight effect isn’t as powerful as it seems,
use the 5-minute rule to get started,
and make it a habit to do things that scare you.
Before you know it, you’ll be tackling challenges that once seemed impossible, and your career will be better for it—so much so that you’ll find yourself in line for that promotion faster than you ever thought possible.
That’s it for today!
