Recently, someone asked me the question, “What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?” After some reflection, I said that I wished someone had told me to embrace discomfort as a necessary aspect related to growth.
Some of my greatest moments of professional and personal progress have come after I have allowed myself to be uncomfortable in a situation. I can now reflect on those experiences and understand that the gut-wrenching, sleepless anxiety I felt was actually a good thing in the long run.
That difficult conversation I dreaded having with an employee whose performance was not up to snuff turned into a great mentoring relationship that has lasted for many years. The discussion about a sales compensation plan that I thought may cost me my job turned out to not be as bad as I had expected and got me on the path to the fair comp plan I deserved. It didn’t cost me my job and, in fact, demonstrated to my superiors the foundation of a leadership quality I could build on.
Being uncomfortable can provide opportunity for great growth if you are able to evaluate the situation objectively.
Uncover the why: There are a number of reasons why someone might find a situation uncomfortable. Is your company rolling out something new that will fundamentally change your job and how you spend your days? Are you afraid of bringing up your idea at work because you are afraid of rejection? Are you avoiding talking with an employee because you are unsure of what their reaction to your feedback might be?
Determining the root cause of your discomfort is a good place to start to quell those concerns that might be holding you back from doing what is needed. Of course, it goes without saying that you should never try and push through feelings of discomfort that stem from being asked to anything that is illegal or compromises your personal ethics.
Sleep on it: Sure, it may sound trite, but the sentiment is tried and true. Take a moment to clear your head and see if your discomfort is lasting or just temporary. Sometimes, discomfort can be your first reaction to something that is new, ambiguous, or unknown – which is normal. Talking it through with a friend or mentor, or just giving yourself a mental break from the source gives you the opportunity to take a look at the bigger picture and evaluate just how uncomfortable the situation really is.
The Infamous T-Chart
One of the simplest tools of listing the pros and cons of a decision or a scenario is a common tactic when it comes to decision making, and one of my husband’s favorite tools. While I roll my eyes a little bit every time my husband uses this approach during one of our conversations (it is one that has grown to infamy in our house), I have to admit it is an effective device.
The process of documenting everything you may have on your mind regarding a situation allows you to evaluate the risks and rewards and to have a real picture of what is the worst that can happen. If the worst that can happen is that your employee gives you the cold shoulder for a week after a tough review, that is worth the discomfort – both for the ongoing success of your team and for his or her personal development as well.
We are human, and humans innately try to avoid emotional and physical discomfort at all costs. Business is not easy and it certainly isn’t always comfortable, so developing strategies on how to make discomfort work for you instead of against you is key to success.
Kim Garcia is Director of Marketing for PSA Security Network. To request more info about PSA, visit www.securityinfowatch.com/10214742.
