Fear of failure concerns what might happen if an attempt goes badly; fear of success concerns changes that might follow a favorable result. The two can coexist. Examine consequences rather than assuming one hidden fear explains every delay.
Compare the operations, not a score
| Question or field | Fictional completed example |
|---|---|
| Failure consequence? | Proposal rejected |
| Success consequence? | Extra evening work |
| Fact to check? | Expected weekly hours |
| Available safeguard? | State delivery capacity |
| Next action? | Send a scoped proposal |
A worked situation: Proposal rejected
Fictional example. A consultant fears rejection by a new client and also fears losing evenings if the contract succeeds. Those are different planning questions, requiring a proposal decision and a capacity limit.
Ask which consequence changes the decision
Failure concerns an unwanted result; success can introduce a new duty, visibility, or cost. Write the feared consequence for each rather than assigning yourself a label. Then check which consequence is real and negotiable. A promotion can require a schedule change even when you welcome it. The comparison helps frame a decision; it does not identify an unconscious clinical cause.