The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it. ~ Michelangelo (Disputed)
Did you ever wonder why people hire personal fitness trainers instead of working out on their own? It’s simple. Great trainers push clients beyond their comfort zone and get them to do much more than they thought was possible.
From time to time, most people need some encouragement to maintain their motivation.
While it’s the same body doing the same exercises, the trainer is putting them in a different mindset. The trainer is telling them they can do it. They believe it and that belief allows them to achieve much more.
This is also effective at work. People can meet tighter deadlines. They can build a better customer experience. They just don’t believe they can do it because it would require them to be uncomfortable.
The most effective leaders get people to be comfortable being uncomfortable with everything they are doing.
How do the best leaders do this? They invest time to really understand their people, their specific roles and their particular set of skills.
If you are a leader, ask yourself this question: What else can the people on your team do that is a step beyond what they are doing today that leverages all their skills?
Push and push hard. Most people don’t want to stretch beyond their skill set if it involves risking their existing position. Encourage them to “lean in” to the opportunity and discover what else they can do beyond the status quo.
Some people, when left to their own devices, will choose to stay inside of their comfort zone. However, there is nothing motivating about someone doing the same thing they’ve done before, and long term they will be unhappy.
So, do them a favor, do yourself a favor, and push them where they are entirely uncomfortable.
