Are mistakes bad? For many reasons, we, especially women, enter the workforce believing this is true. As a result, we often see all risks as bad or overlook opportunities to take risks altogether. These risks may include jumping at a challenging assignment or a stretch role, putting yourself up for a promotion, or negotiating your compensation package. But avoiding risk can have long-term consequences. Here are some small ways you can begin making a change.

• Reimagine risks as bold moves. The language we use to communicate with ourselves makes a difference. Instead of asking, “Should I take this risk?” flip the script and ask, “Should I make this bold move?”
• Remember that courage begets courage. The small risks we are presented with every day, such as speaking up in a meeting, are just as impactful, and just as likely to drive positive change.
• Don’t focus only on the potential consequences of action, but also on the potential consequences of inaction. Instead of only asking, “What happens if I take a risk?” also ask, “What happens if I don’t?”
• Avoid the faulty assumption that risk-taking only has two outcomes: success or failure. The reward of taking risks is always progress if you optimize risk-taking, have the right mindset, and learn from the outcomes. In all cases, you will either achieve a goal or learn a valuable lesson that will propel you forward and help you refine your approach.