When was the last time you hit the ‘it’s too scary or uncomfortable’ wall?

What is your first thought when you got there?
Being in a state of conscious incompetence can feel really awkward, and uncomfortable and once we have some status it feels like we might lose some of that respect we have worked so hard to build.

Last month I attended a keynote and Q&A event with Adam Grant, Organisational Psychologist & Author & Professor at Wharton Business School in Melbourne Convention Centre. One of the key messages I took away from the event was related to a story Adam shared about his experience in securing his first teaching job.

The feedback he received after his first interview was he ‘lacked confidence’, after delivering a workshop to US Airforce Commanders his feedback forms read something like ‘I believe the teacher learned more than all of us put together’, this was the experience of the person now stood on a stage with an audience of over 3000 people in a country almost 10,000 miles from his home – boy done good I’d say!

We all have a comfort zone, the people we lead have a comfort zone that space where we can play it safe, where we’re experts, and we’re respected yet fulfilling our potential means pushing past many of those boundary conditions into new territory, feeling uncomfortable and moving forward not pulling back or putting it all in the ‘too hard’ basket.

Adam’s message was to ask for advice on how to be better and act on it, because it is how you respond to that advice that will expand your comfort zone.

“All growth starts from the end of your comfort zone”

Tony Robbins

Your comfort zone is like ordering the same thing to eat at your favourite restaurant, we like the look of other things on the menu but the fear of being disappointed means we stick with what we know (our comfort zone), perhaps it is time to expand our palate and try something new!

John Doer, in his book Measure What Matters says if we are achieving all the goals we set for ourselves we are not aiming high enough. What have you always wanted to do or what potential can you see in your team that they may not be aware of and how can you encourage them to expand their comfort zone?

3 Steps to Expanding your comfort zone:

Step 1 – Be conscious and aware of when you are feeling like you are hitting that wall, get curious as to why. Know this is all completely normal – everybody feels it (Even Adam Grant!)

Step 2 – Ask yourself this question – what evidence do you have to support you won’t be successful?

Step 3 – Use that feeling of imposter syndrome, I’m not good enough as your fuel! Research shows that those of us who feel this way put more effort in, are more disciplined and are more successful! So make it work for you 🙌🏻