Read Time: 6 Minutes
Introduction
As humans, our survival instinct is deeply ingrained within us. When faced with threats or challenges, our flight-fight-freeze response kicks in, urging us to either escape, confront, or freeze in place. While this response mechanism has been crucial for our survival throughout history, it can often hinder our progress as entrepreneurs and small business owners.
OVERCOME SURVIVAL MODE TO THRIVE IN OUR NEW ENVIRONMENTS
In this blog, we will explore the impact of the flight-fight-freeze survival mode on individuals in the business world, shedding light on how it can impede action and growth. Furthermore, we will provide valuable insights and strategies to overcome these limitations and unlock your full entrepreneurial potential.
What is Survival Mode?
Survival mode is a primal response deeply rooted in our evolutionary biology. It is a natural instinct triggered in the face of perceived threats or challenges. When the flight-fight-freeze survival mode is activated, our body and mind prepare to either escape from danger, confront it head-on, or freeze in place. This response mechanism served as a crucial survival tool in ancient times when our ancestors had to navigate life-threatening situations. However, in modern-day contexts such as entrepreneurship and small business ownership, the survival mode can hinder individuals from taking necessary action. Understanding the flight-fight-freeze response is key to breaking free from its limitations and unlocking our full potential as entrepreneurs and business owners.
Why Survival Mode is Counter-Productive to Becoming an Entrepreneur
Embarking on the journey of entrepreneurship requires a unique set of skills and qualities. However, our innate survival mode, comprising the fight, freeze, and flight responses, can often hinder rather than facilitate our success as entrepreneurs. While each response may offer a temporary sense of security, they come with their own limitations and drawbacks.
The Fight Response
In the face of adversity, some individuals respond with a fighting spirit. They tackle challenges head-on, determined to overcome any obstacles in their path. However, while this approach can be admirable, it also has its drawbacks. Entrepreneurs who solely rely on the fight response may become overly aggressive, neglecting strategic planning and effective decision-making. It is important to strike a balance between resilience and adaptability, recognizing when to fight and when to approach challenges with a more measured approach.
The Freeze Response:
On the opposite end of the spectrum, some individuals respond to challenges by freezing. In the entrepreneurial context, freezing can manifest as a reluctance to take action, procrastination, or a fear of failure. This response often stems from a desire to avoid risks and maintain a sense of comfort and stability. However, by succumbing to the freeze response, entrepreneurs miss out on growth opportunities and hinder their own success. Overcoming this freeze response requires developing resilience, embracing uncertainty, and reframing failures as valuable learning experiences.
The Flight Response
Flight, as a response to challenges, involves avoiding or running away from them. In the business world, flight manifests as giving up on entrepreneurial pursuits or abandoning projects prematurely. This response is often driven by a fear of failure, a lack of confidence, or an inability to cope with setbacks. Entrepreneurs who fall into the flight response trap limit their potential for growth and deny themselves the chance to achieve their goals. Overcoming the flight response involves cultivating resilience, building a support network, and developing a growth mindset.
How to Identify Which Survival Mode Gets Triggered as an Entrepreneur or Small Business Owner
Identifying your dominant survival mode as an entrepreneur or small business owner is crucial. This awareness empowers you to make conscious choices, overcome limitations, and take actions aligned with long-term success and growth. Here are four ways to identify you dominant survival mode:
Self-Reflection and Observation: Reflect on your behavior and emotional responses to challenges. Notice if you tend to fight (assertiveness), freeze (indecisiveness), or flee (risk avoidance) in difficult situations.
- Analyze Past Responses: Evaluate how you have reacted to setbacks and uncertainties in the past. Look for recurring patterns and tendencies to identify your primary survival mode.
Emotional Awareness: Pay attention to the emotions that arise during crucial moments. Anger and a need to prove yourself indicate a fight response, while hesitation and anxiety align with freeze. Desire to give up or seek safety suggests flight
Seek Feedback and External Perspective: Obtain input from trusted colleagues or mentors who have observed your responses. Consider their insights and how others perceive your behavior.
6 Strategies to Overcome the Survival Mode
1: Mindfulness and Self-Awareness
Cultivate mindfulness practices that allow you to recognize when the flight-fight-freeze response is triggered. By understanding your own behavioral patterns and emotional responses, you can consciously choose to respond differently.
2: Set Clear Goals and Break Them Down
Establishing clear, actionable goals helps you stay focused and motivated. Breaking them down into smaller, manageable tasks can alleviate feelings of overwhelm and prevent the freeze response.
3: Embrace Failure and Learn from It
Rather than viewing failure as a setback, see it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Celebrate the lessons learned from failures and use them to improve your strategies moving forward.
4: Seek Support and Collaboration
Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand the entrepreneurial journey. Collaborate with mentors, join networking groups, and leverage the support of your peers to gain valuable insights and motivation.
5: Build Resilience
Develop resilience by consistently challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone. Embrace uncertainty, adapt to change, and reframe setbacks as temporary obstacles on the path to success.
6: Prioritize Self-Care to Overcome Survival Mode
Restful sleep, exercise, a balanced diet, stress-reducing practices, and emotional well-being boost resilience. Allocate leisure time for strength and balance, leading to success.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize your survival mode: Understanding whether you tend to fight, freeze, or flee when faced with challenges is crucial for self-awareness and personal growth as an entrepreneur.
Reflect on past responses: Analyze how you have reacted to setbacks and uncertainties in the past to identify patterns and tendencies associated with your dominant survival mode.
Pay attention to emotions: Be mindful of the emotions that arise during challenging moments. They can provide valuable clues about your default survival response and help you navigate it more effectively.
Seek external perspective: Feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors can provide valuable insights into how your behavior is perceived and help confirm or challenge your self-perception.
Summary
Navigating the flight-fight-freeze survival mode is a journey that requires self-awareness, resilience, and a willingness to step outside of our comfort zones. By acknowledging our natural tendencies and actively choosing alternative responses, we can transcend limitations, make progress, and achieve success as entrepreneurs. Remember, it’s not about eliminating fear or stress entirely, but rather developing the tools and mindset to navigate them effectively. Embrace the challenges, learn from them, and let them propel you forward on your entrepreneurial path. You have the power to rewrite your story and create a thriving business that aligns with your passions and goals.
