"Get outside your comfort zone." "Get comfortable being uncomfortable." These statements, and others like them, have been offered by leaders, teachers, coaches, and the like, but sometimes stepping outside one's comfort zone may not be the best advice. Such a proclamation, particularly in higher ed or military circles, is anticipated to generate some backlash. As Epictetus once challenged, "To improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." That statement smacks of stepping outside one's comfort zone. Others, in contrast, advise the masses to "go with your gut." While we're frequently challenged to get outside our comfort zones to develop and succeed, there are few things as energizing as being a dominant presence and competitor within an area for which we're naturally suited inside our comfort zones. If after a new attempt, something doesn't set right in the proverbially gut, reconsider whether continuing down an uncomfortable area of weakness path is worth it, or if your time is better invested in areas more closely aligned to your natural strengths. This is not to say there is no place for trying new experiences to identify other potential "in-the-zone" areas, but exercise caution when pushed to step outside your comfort zone. Be prepared, some may consider it a sign of weakness avoiding pursuits outside a comfort zone but ignore detractors. This is not a call to weakness, but rather a call to excellence by discovering and maximizing one's strengths while limiting time spent reinforcing weaker areas where success may be unlikely.

Discovering Your Strengths

The psychologist Dr. Don Clifton developed an assessment tool to help people discover, expand, and improve upon their strengths. Instead of focusing on shoring up what is wrong with people, Dr. Clifton believed individuals, organizations, and society all improve when people "know what is rightwith them," enabling them to "maximize their infinite potential." The book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths," by Clifton and Buckingham addresses society's "fixation with weakness." An account in the book relates an example of a student not thriving in a particular subject. The student is instructed to work harder on that specific subject to raise the grade. In the long run, perhaps everyone, particularly students, would be better served if students worked harder mastering subjects that are a more natural fit for them. This idea can be expanded into other areas, such as the workplace, so leaders take note. Inspirational are the stories about failing employees repurposed by adept leaders into areas more suited to the employees' natural inclinations and skillsets to the overall betterment of the organization.

Five Ways to Embrace Your Strengths

Think of the childhood discomfort experienced during the first bicycle rides after removing the training wheels. Then recall the exhilarating feeling after mastering the ride and being in the zone. It becomes almost as natural as breathing and this is how life, both personally and professionally, can be. There is goodness in trying new opportunities and challenging oneself, but the comfort zone is where true mastery and excellence reside. In the book, "10x is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less," Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy advance several points relative to strengths and mastery:

(1) "Your Unique Ability is where you have superior skills, where you're completely intrinsically motivated and thus energized and engaged, and it's also where you see never-ending possibility for improvement;"

(2) "We all have a Unique Ability-the purest and freest expression of our self and our purpose...;"

(3) "When you embrace your Unique Ability, work becomes play;"

(4) "Your life's objective is to develop mastery in and fully express your Unique Ability;"

(5) "A master is someone who can never be replicated, they can only be learned from. Embracing your Unique Ability is how you develop Mastery as a person and become the highest and most genuine version of yourself."

The points by Sullivan and Hardy tie to the discussion about comfort zones and adhering to their advice can yield great benefits to self and society.

Recognizing Your Limitations for Success

Much of the recent scholarship about high reliability organizations mentions "deference to expertise," whereby leaders recognize their limitations and defer certain matters to others who are better equipped. In all walks of life and professions, some individuals rise to become what the media popularly refers to as Greatest of All Time, or GOATs. GOATs are those who not only possess an aptitude and passion for their craft, but they are committed to the extremely demanding work ethic necessary to achieve GOAT notoriety. The information and recommendations in this article have broad application to the higher education sphere. In what areas do you consider yourself in-the-zone or gifted, for example, when it comes to choosing your career field either on or off campus? Similarly, where might you find a natural fit when choosing a degree program, when developing curriculum, or which of your strengths can aid your institution with increasing campus services related to veteran students and veteran employment? Without a doubt, it is important to dip a toe into new waters, but mind leaving that toe too long in the wrong pool. Invest your time honing your gifts. If, for whatever reason, it becomes important to step outside your comfort zone, consider instead taking risk in areas more naturally suited to your knowledge, skills, interests, and abilities. If you have a gift for oratory, get uncomfortable by involving yourself in new opportunities as a presenter instead of committing to other, completely unrelated disciplines and pursuits. This is not weakness, but a charge to improve yourself and, thus, a greater good. "To thine own self be true." Right! Thank you, Mr. Shakespeare.

Article Topics

Job Search Advice Working as a Veteran in HigherEd

Republish this article for free. We want to make it easier for you to share knowledge and creativity, and encourage you to reuse our articles under a Creative Commons license.