[October 26, 2013] If you want to be a good leader, but especially if you want to be a great leader, plan on doing things outside your personal comfort zone. Senior leaders must be always on the lookout for ways to improve their capability and capacity to get things done.
“If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.” – Unknown
Leaders intuitively know that doing things that are very daunting and great achievements go together. This means that you will not see great, unless there is something intimidating that one must do to get there. Whether that is overcoming huge obstacles, obtaining a resource-intensive goal, a massive reorganization – scary and wonderful things are two sides of the same coin.
Frankly, that means conquering fear. Not unlike the hero combat soldier who fights and destroys America’s enemy on the battlefield – the soldier has fear but will be a better soldier for pushing fear aside long enough to obtain a higher goal.
Those people who want to stay in their comfort zone will never be a better person and will never experience the thrill of the victory. Sadly, apathy is a natural human trait – we want comfort and in that comfort nothing really changes. Most people will go to great and unrealistic lengths to resist moving outside their comfort zone.
“It is natural for all of us to seek a comfort zone.” – David Byrd1
Those who are the most creative, innovative, mentally flexible and intelligent … and the greatest of leaders, are all those operating outside that zone of comfort.
Leaders exist to move organizations and teams. By definition, they cannot be in their comfort zone without destroying those that work for them.
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[1] David Byrd. The Tipping Point in Leadership: Overcoming Organizational Apathy. Pilot Communications Group, Inc. 2008.