Change Leadership Means Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Recently, I was speaking with some individuals who wanted to support their organization in going green at work but found it hard to get buy-in from their colleagues. We brainstormed multiple ways that they could create change, how to position their project so that it could be best received, and addressed some of the mindset shifts required in order for them to succeed with their project.
One of the shifts that we discussed was getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is something you may have heard before and understand intellectually but likely have not yet translated into your daily practice. I can relate, because while I know that getting outside my comfort zone is where the magic happens, it is easier to stay in the safe zone of predictability. This is where this quote from Seth Godin is so powerful, especially in the uncertain times we are living now:
“If you become someone who is uncomfortable unless she is creating change, restless if things are standing still, and disappointed if you haven’t failed recently, you’ve figured out how to become comfortable with the behaviors most likely to make you safe going forward.”
Here are some ways you can get out of your comfort zone. You may want to pick one and implement it for a couple of weeks and see how it feels. You can then start applying these same concepts towards your desire to go green at work – or your project, if you’ve already started one.
1. Learn something new.
Have you been thinking about photography for the past three years but not taken action? Maybe it’s cooking Vietnamese food? Or taking up a new language? What have you been putting off either because you didn’t think you had the time or were intimidated to start? Take one step today towards that.
2. Do something that makes you uncomfortable each day.
If you are an introvert, it could mean starting a conversation with a neighbor or the clerk at the store. If you are scared of public speaking, it could be jumping on an app such as Clubhouse and joining a conversation (side note, if you are on CH, be sure to find me - @ancanovacovici). If you are afraid of dogs, go pet a dog in your neighborhood (after asking the owner if it was ok, of course). You get the idea.
3. Reach out to someone you admire but are a little (or a lot) intimidated by.
You may have been following someone on IG, YouTube, or reading one of their books or blogs and really admire them and what they have achieved. Why not reach out to them to make a connection? Think about how you can provide value then see how you can connect. You may be pleasantly surprised at what that leads do.
4. Say ‘yes’ to something you would otherwise have said ‘no’ to.
This could be as simple as agreeing to grab a (socially distanced) coffee with a neighbor, or supporting a colleague with a pet project, or going to a virtual meetup to support one of your friends who is shy and doesn’t want to do it alone.
5. Find ways to support others that you wouldn’t usually do.
If it’s snowing, offer to shovel your elderly neighbor’s walkway. If you think of two people who could benefit from knowing each other, introduce them (even if it’s out of the blue). Volunteer your time at a local shelter.
6. Do something for yourself that you otherwise wouldn’t do.
You keep saying you need to move more – get out and walk, don’t think twice about it, the bills can wait. You have been yearning to take a bath but it seems like a waste of time – do it anyway and don’t feel guilty about it.
7. Set a big goal and get started on it.
Have been wanting to run a marathon? Climb Denali? Why wait? You only have a limited time on this earth. Figure out what you need to do to accomplish that goal, then go take a step top get you closer to your dream!
8. Turn off the TV and screens at night.
I can hear a lot of you cringe as you read that. But think about what you could do with that time. Have a digital sunset then read a book, mediate, try a new recipe, learn to crochet, listen to a book on tape while you go for a walk. There are so many other options to grow and thrive instead of watching others live pretend lives. Note: I’m not saying no TV and screens ever, just to not use it as the default all the time. You’ll get much more out of active vs. passive entertainment .
9. Change your morning routine.
Do you wake up every morning and check your phone? Skip it. Instead, spend five minutes journaling, meditating, moving, being grateful, or visualizing your optimal day. Do you keep hitting the snooze on the alarm? Instead, think ‘5-4-3-2-1 – launch!’ and launch yourself out of bed. Be sure to have a clear next step – like going for a run or a short yoga routine or shower - to make sure you don’t then fall back into bed after you get out of it.
10. Turn off technology for a day
Spend the day – likely a weekend day – without any technology. No phone, no iPad, no digital maps to tell you where to go. If you get lost, great, you’ll figure out how to get back. If you mess up a recipe, no problem – you might have created something better. Need to connect with friends? Tell them where you’ll meet them and when. If they don’t show up or are late, you’ll figure it out.
You get the idea. Do something out of YOUR ordinary. After you’ve done it, think about what you learned. How has it changed you, if at all? How can you apply this to going green at work? Would love to hear about it! Be sure to reach out. One last thought that I will leave you with, from Denis Waitley, in the Psychology of Winning:
“One of the best ways to develop adaptability to the stresses of life is to view them as normal. Earl Nightingale tells of his visit with his son recently to the Great Barrier Reef which stretches nearly 1800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Noticing that the coral polyps on the inside of the reef, where the sea was tranquil and quiet in the lagoon, appeared pale and lifeless… while the coral on the outside of the reef, subject to the surge of the tide and power of the waves, were bright and vibrant with splendid colors and flowing growth… Earl Nightingale asked why this was so. ‘It’s very simple,’ came the reply, ‘the coral on the lagoon-side dies rapidly with no challenge for growth and survival… while the coral facing the surge and power of the open sea, thrives and multiplies because it is challenged and tested every day. And so it is with every living organism on earth.”
P.S. If you are looking to help your organization go green and have just started or have taken a few steps and would like more no-cost or low-cost project ideas, be sure to download our free Beginner’s Guide to Going Green.