Comfort Zones
Wednesday, August 26, 2015 - Joe Kiedinger
We all have comfort zones we have created for ourselves. We like to go about life following our own set of norms. Occasionally though, we are forced to step outside our comfort zone.
Perhaps as children we were forced to go through a monotonous planned field trip when we were more comfortable being adventurous, free spirited and taking life as it came. For others of us, perhaps we were forced to give a speech on the spot with no prior planning when we were more comfortable with predictability and organization.
Whatever the case may be, we’ve all been there. We were put in a situation that was uncomfortable and unfamiliar to us. It may even have caused some unpleasant feelings like anxiousness, impatience or nausea. But in the end, once the experience was over we could return back to our normal comfort zone and no harm was done to us. In fact, we may even have grown from the situation!
As parents, we are constantly guiding our children to try new things. It’s the same thing in the work place. A good leader pushes his associates to step outside their comfort zone now and then. Maybe it’s just dipping a toe in the water or maybe it’s jumping right in. But they challenge their folks to try new approaches and see things differently. Because while it may be uncomfortable for a moment, the benefits will be a worthy reward.
Joe Kiedinger
ACTION PLAN: How will you challenge your associates this week?