HAVE you ever watched the TV program "Fear Factor"? To me, some of the stunts that frighten contestants don't look so bad. The reason some things seem easy to us, when others find them difficult, is simply that they don't scare us. For instance, I'm not afraid of flying in an airplane, but I know many people who refuse to fly because of past terrorist events. Understanding probability leads me to conclude that flying is pretty safe. This neither diminishes nor invalidates others' fears. Fear can be both quite subjective and quite real. If something scares you, that's all that's important to you.

Fear often keeps us from moving forward with technology. Over the years I have had a number of terrifying experiences with implementing technology, such as when changing agency management systems. But I also have discovered a number of ways to conquer the fear factor:

Get started. Sometimes just taking that first, tiny step can get you moving and ready for further action. A good friend of mine runs all year long for exercise. In the winter that means heading out when the temperature is 10 degrees or colder. Once I asked him if it was hard to force himself to run on such days. His answer was, "Only the first step out the door is hard. After that I'm on my way, and before I know it I'm back home and finished."
Play. If you can try out a piece of technology without committing to a purchase, the lack of risk might make the decision seem less threatening. It's easy to arrange such a tryout. For agency management systems, vendors usually have demos, as well as a person willing to show you its features. If you're considering a PDA but fear it will be a waste of money, visit a store and play witha demo. Ask the retailer questions, and seek references from others who have made the purchase.
Talk to yourself. For many people this idea might sound bizarre or outright crazy. However, self-talk can be quite convincing and an effective way to overcome your fear of the unknown. A simple "I can do this," or "Don't quit now" at the right moment can get you past the thought of giving up.
Share with others. If you're thinking about changing agency management systems and the process seems too daunting, talk to others who have made a conversion. This is especially helpful if you can find someone who has made exactly the transition you're considering. You might be surprised to learn that the other person felt just as scared about it as you are now. You may also learn what to watch out for during the process. Learning from others' experiences significantly reduces the number of surprises you will face in your own transition.
Plan the process. Planning is more than just establishing a timetable. It should include a "full-color" picture of how the change will occur. Create worst-case scenarios and design backup plans. If you're buying a new PDA that has software conversion utility, find a way to create an emergency backup. Printing an address book may seem a waste of paper, but it's better than having no address book at all. If this sounds like overkill, remember that the purpose is to eliminate your fears. Design enough plans to soothe your anxiety so that you can effect the changes you want.
Just do it. At some point, your logical fears will have been addressed, and any further delay is only because of fear of the unknown. That's the point at which you need to make a leap of faith-faith in yourself, that is-and hope that fate casts you only to those crises you planned for.
Look in the rear-view mirror. Look where you are today and where you were three projects ago. Would you ever go back? We went through the agony of an agency management system change in 2000 that took almost two years to finish. Although it was difficult, it is impossible for any of our staff to imagine being back in 1999, with a management system not integrated with our desktops.
Bragging rights: Once you've pushed yourself through all the previous steps and have implemented a new technology, you've earned "bragging rights." There is nothing more rewarding than the fresh air and the view of the landscape from the highest mountain in the range. Sitting atop your mountain of achievement, you will realize your initial fear was largely unfounded, and you'll have less fear of the next mountain. You get to share your success story with others. "If you did it, it ain't bragging."

Special Reports /

Automation: How to move ahead when change seems frightening

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