Most of us operate each day within a certain comfort zone, without stepping outside of it. However, growth and greater opportunities mostly happen beyond what’s comfortable.

In leadership coaching, I usually start by helping clients determine what their comfort zone is – defining it as an imaginary line drawn around them. Then, we find ways to move past it. This is especially important when their goal is to increase their confidence as leaders.

I often challenge my clients to take actions outside their comfort zone both at home and on the job because the more they do it, the easier it gets. In the book, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Susan Jeffers, PhD explains that we often make a big deal about something we are afraid to do but when we just step in and do it, we realize it isn’t as challenging as we thought.

A COMMON COMFORT ZONE FOR MANY LEADERS

Many leaders resist stepping outside their comfort zone when it comes to having honest, hard conversations.

I am currently working with Jonah, a talented young man who is the Executive Director of a large senior living community. In our first session, he admitted to being a huge people pleaser, so we decided he’d work on going outside his comfort to have more honest conversations with his direct reports. During the coaching engagement, he was promoted to a new senior living community with a completely new leadership team. It became an ideal opportunity for him to fully embrace his new communication style and leave the people pleasing behind.

This is not an easy pattern to change; it takes time and intention. Jonah definitely has a way to go but is doing it and it is working for him. He would also admit that being honest with his team is not as scary as he expected, just like the book says.

IS THE COMFORT ZONE WORTH CROSSING?

Not all comfort zones need to be crossed.

I always ask my clients to consider which lines they are willing to step over in pursuit of their leadership development. For example: When does it make sense for them to share their point of view with senior management if it completely deviates from the current and accepted approaches? If it’s important for them to do so, I help them evaluate who to communicate their views to and how. 

Another situation to consider involves physical safety. For example, I am afraid of heights. It presents as an internal panic and irrational thought to “jump” to get out of the situation. During a recent vacation, I was in a mountain town. I was petrified to the point of crying when I got there. The group I was with was doing several outings hiking and riding on trams high in the mountains. I thought of my coaching counsel – that moving beyond our comfort zone is key to building confidence and broadening our opportunities – yet I told my group I would not be joining them on the train ride to the top of the mountain.

Am I a hypocrite? Maybe. On most days, I enjoy pushing past my comfort. Yet, I saw no reason to put myself into total panic and have my fellow travelers put up with me in such a state. Embracing my fear of heights is not a line I am willing to cross at this point in my life.

ON TO YOU

Do you have a sense of your comfort zone?

• Start by noticing where you stop yourself when it comes to taking action.
• Consider what you could do to push yourself beyond where you usually go.
• See if these actions give you renewed energy and confidence.

If there are limiting patterns you want to address and are not sure how to do it, let’s talk.