Posts Tagged ‘comfort zone’

Alignment Solutions Newsletter: Why Successful People Operate Outside their Comfort Zones

Wednesday, December 17th, 2014

Why Successful People Operate
Outside their Comfort Zones

Alignment solution: One way that people learn and grow is to challenge themselves by testing and stretching their perceived boundaries. Those who regularly operate outside their comfort zones gain valuable perspectives that are likely to lead to personal and professional success.

Think back to the first time you did something that put you way outside your comfort zone. Perhaps you gave a speech in front of a large audience, or were promoted to a position that required you to supervise your former peers, or became a parent. At some point you probably felt very uncomfortable. Yet that experience made you a wiser, more capable person.

The fact is that we learn and grow by testing our perceived boundaries and continually pushing them outward. Forging into the unknown is a scary proposition for most people that definitely forces us outside our comfort zones – though some might find this situation exhilarating as well. Last year I accepted an invitation to see what it’s like to be hoisted 107 feet into the air in a small bucket at the end of a ladder on a fire truck. Even though this opportunity put me way outside my comfort zone (I have a serious problem with heights and did NOT find the experience exhilarating), I took advantage of it because I wanted to learn what these firefighters, my clients, do as part of their everyday job.

A number of years ago one of my colleagues said, “I’m learning to become comfortable in my discomfort.” Knowing that his business couldn’t grow if he continued doing only those things he was comfortable with, he chose to embrace discomfort as a constant companion.  The lesson: putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations helps us gain valuable perspectives and experiences that result in personal and professional growth.

Here are some questions for you to assess your state of continuous learning and growth:

  1. What percentage of your time do you operate outside your comfort zone?
  2. Does your answer indicate that you are continuing to learn and grow?
  3. If yes, how will you sustain it? If no, what will you do differently to get back on the continuous learning and growth track?
  4. What does your answer to #1 indicate about the example you are setting to others?
  5. What percentage of their time would your employees say they operate outside their comfort zones?   
  6. Do their answers indicate that there is room to improve their focus on continuous learning and growth?
  7. If yes, what will you do about it?

People who embrace living in a near-constant state of discomfort are those who are most likely to be personally and professionally successful. How has your discomfort level helped YOUR business or life? How will you ensure that it continues to do so well into the future?


To find other articles and resources that may be of value to you, I invite you to visit my web site at www.BusinessAlignmentStrategies.com and my blog at www.OptimizeBusinessResults.com.


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