This post is part of our Weekly Tips series.

At The Get Real Project, we’re fond of saying, “No risk, no trust, no doubt about it.”Personal risk-taking has the potential to turn ordinary relationships into extraordinary ones. Unfortunately, most people in business operate in the mode of “less is more.”

Risk-taking requires practice. Here are three (of six) best practices to intentionally build your risk-taking muscle:

  • Take responsibility for mistakes. “Janet, part of the problem here is that I failed to meet my commitments.”
  • Be willing to express your own emotions. “Gee, Johannes, I must confess to feeling pretty frustrated by what you just said” or “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that.”
  • Share something personal. “My weekend was great, Surita, thanks for asking. My parents were in town, and Sam and I really enjoyed the babysitting they offered. We got a much-needed break.”

Bonus: Making it Real

This week, look closely at your risk-taking habits. How?

Keep a short daily log of opportunities taken and lost. Consider the interactions you have at work as well as outside of work.

At the end of the week, note what you’ve learned about yourself from this practice. What patterns or themes do you see?

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Andrea Howe

As the founder of The Get Real Project, I am the steward of our vision and our service offerings, as well as a workshop leader and keynote speaker. Above all else, I am an entrepreneur on a mission: to kick conventional business wisdom to the curb and transform how people work together as a result. I am also the co-author, with Charles H. Green, of The Trusted Advisor Fieldbook (Wiley, 2012).