Photo by Deborah M McCormick
We all have a comfort zone – a “place” where we feel safe, in control and free from stress. The size of the zone is different for everyone.
During a family hike, my cousin asked her 6 year old son Jonny to be careful. He responded “Mom, where you see danger, I see fun.” You may never have Jonny’s risk tolerance (and maybe you shouldn’t). And it is important, for your health and well-being, to spend some time in your comfort zone. But, we can spend too much time in our safe places. We also need to challenge our zones – in our personal lives – and in our workplaces and careers.
Are you learning new skills? New technologies? When is the last time you volunteered to take on a new project or responsibility (outside of your area of expertise or specialty)? Explore your comfort zone and consider how often you step outside. Are you encouraging your employees to step outside of their safe place? Encourage them to take risks and to stretch themselves. And remind them that there is no such thing as failure if they learn from the experience.
Throughout my career, I was fortunate enough to have this kind of encouragement. Of course, the unfamiliar can be stressful. I know we think of stress as a bad thing, but a certain amount of stress, as long as you are able to manage it, is healthy for your career. As one of my mentors used to say, if you are comfortable, you are not really learning.
By challenging yourself to step outside of your comfort zone, you will build confidence to continue to stretch yourself and overcome fears that keep you doing only the familiar. You will learn not only to cope with, but embrace change. Further, you will learn more about your strengths and weaknesses while outside of your comfort zone than you could ever learn while inside.
You will learn more about your strengths and weaknesses while outside of your comfort zone than you could ever learn while inside.
So, when is the last time you tried something new or pushed yourself to take on a challenge that scared you? Don’t let fear of the unfamiliar stop you from reaching higher and stretching yourself. I’ve heard the advice to do something that scares you everyday. But, everyone has a different risk tolerance so don’t worry if you need to take smaller steps.
Baby steps or not, you will find that once you start, you will become more comfortable outside of your comfort zone – and thus widen your zone – and your opportunities.
Baby steps or not, you will find that once you start, you will become more comfortable outside of your comfort zone – and thus widen your zone – and your opportunities.
So, provided you want to swim, go ahead and take the plunge. Lifeguard or not. But, you may want to wait until the snow melts.
Submitted by Deborah M McCormick