Fear of Failure: The Silent Force Holding SME Leaders Back From Scale

There’s a quiet but powerful force that holds back even the most talented SME leaders.

It’s not the market.
It’s not the economy.
It’s not even the competition.

It’s fear of failure.

And the worst part? It doesn’t often look like fear. It shows up in smarter disguises—hesitation, perfectionism, overthinking, indecision. It’s the inner voice that whispers:

“What if this doesn’t work?”
“What if I lose everything?”
“What will people say if I mess this up?”
“What if I’m not good enough to lead a scaling business?”

If that feels uncomfortably familiar, know this—you are not broken. You’re human. And you’re leading in a world where the stakes are higher, the expectations heavier, and the mental load constant.

But fear of failure, left unchallenged, is one of the biggest growth killers in business.

And it’s time we talked about it.

Why fear of failure is the invisible wall that slows growth.

Psyche, our first principle in the 10 Principle ScaleX Framework covers how every leader who scales hits a psychological threshold—a point where their mindset, not their business model, becomes the biggest barrier.

I’ve worked with hundreds of founders, MDs, and CEOs across our ScaleX programmes—and here’s the pattern: They don’t get stuck because of a lack of strategy. They get stuck because they’re afraid of what scaling might expose.

I know this not just from working with leaders—but from my own story too.

When I stepped into the CEO role at CDE Global, I didn’t just face strategic demands. I faced internal resistance. The kind that came from decades of conditioning. Thoughts like:

“Are you ready for this?”

“What if the team doesn’t buy into your vision?”

“What if you fail publicly and it all crumbles?”

That pressure doesn’t come from the boardroom. It comes from the inside.

The Real Cost of Fear

Here’s what I’ve seen fear of failure cost SME leaders:

• A bold new product launch delayed for months—or abandoned altogether
• A high-impact hire never made because “now’s not the right time”
• Stalled revenue growth while competitors move ahead
• Burnout from doing too much to “prove your worth”
• Eventually… falling out of love with the very business you started

Fear is a liar, but it’s convincing. And it’s exhausting.

Why It’s So Prevalent in SMEs

You might wonder—“Why do I feel this fear when I’ve come so far?”

Because the more personal your business is to you, the higher the perceived cost of getting it wrong.
Because when you scale, you’re seen. And being seen is vulnerable.
Because it’s no longer just about your survival—it’s about leading others too.

We explore the truth that your business can only grow to the extent that you grow as a leader. And that means confronting the fears you’ve been silently carrying.

Reframing the Fear of Failure

Let’s be clear: The goal isn’t to eliminate fear. It’s to lead in spite of it.

Here’s how SME leaders can start reframing failure:

1. Failure is feedback.
   Every misstep is a lesson. Not a label.

2. Avoiding failure is avoiding growth.
   If you’re never failing, you’re not playing at your edge.

3. Fear is often the signpost for what matters.
   If something scares you, it probably has meaning. That’s a signal—not a stop sign.

And one more powerful mindset shift:
“I either succeed or I learn. But I always move forward.

What Courage Looks Like in Practice

Courage isn’t absence of fear—it’s action in its presence. It’s:

• Launching the new product before it’s “perfect”
• Delegating critical decisions even if it feels risky
• Pitching yourself into new markets without full certainty
• Admitting when something isn’t working—and pivoting fast
• Asking for help before you need it

We’ve seen these moments play out inside our Accelerator and Elevate programmes. And the leaders who grow the fastest are not the ones with the perfect plan. They’re the ones who act, refine, and build momentum through movement.

You Are Not Alone In This

One of the most important things I can tell you is this: Even the best leaders feel this fear.

Daniel Priestley. Jack Daly. Marga Hoek. Every guest we’ve had on the ScaleX Insider Podcast has experienced the fear of failure. The difference is—they didn’t let it define them.

Instead, they used it.
They moved with it.
And in doing so, they scaled not just their business—but themselves.

So if you’re an SME leader navigating doubt, hesitation, or hidden fear right now, I want you to hear this:

You’re not behind.
You’re not unqualified.
You’re not broken.

You’re standing at the edge of your next level. And everything you want is on the other side of the courage to take that next step. Here’s to courage, growth—and finally turning the volume down on the fear of failure.

Your Next Steps: 5 Ways to Grow With Us

Here are 5 ways you can move forward with support, clarity and purpose:

1. Get the Simple Scaling Book

In 2022, Co-founders of Simple Scaling, Brendan McGurgan & Claire Colvin wrote their book outlining the 10 proven principles to 10x your business. It’s gone on to be a best seller on Amazon and is a must-read to grow your business & enhance your leadership skills.
👉 Click here to purchase your copy

2. Join our “Mastering The Psyche For Scaling Success” Sessions

In March & May, we launch our live sessions to give you a sneak peek into the strategies, tools and techniques that have helped leaders like the ones mentioned above achieve lasting success—while keeping their purpose and sustainability at the heart of it.
👉 Click here to sign up before spaces fill

3. Subscribe to the ScaleX Insider Podcast

We’re now in our 15th season, with episodes featuring Steven Bartlett, John Assaraf, Jack Daly and many more world-class leaders.
🎧 Follow on YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts

4. Join ScaleX Elevate

If you’re the leader of a SME generating between £750k – £3m annually, ScaleX Elevate was designed as a digitally delivered programme to help you 2x your revenue within 3 years. In just 90 days, we’ll help you build a roadmap to scale with purpose.
👉 Click here to learn more and apply

5. Join the ScaleX Accelerator Programme

Each year, we work hands-on with 24 business leaders through residentials, workshops & mastermind sessions to deliver a powerful roadmap to scale. Our Northern Ireland programme is underway, and our London cohort launches this June.
👉 Click here to find out more and join the waitlist