Have the Courage to be Uncomfortable So You Can Make Others Comfortable!
We get used to doing things a certain way and there is great comfort in that routine and stability. The Myers Briggs Personality Type is a great assessment tool that helps leaders understand their natural behavioral tendencies. There are sixteen different categories, that are based on determining if someone is an extravert or an introvert, whether they perceive and understand based on sensing or on intuition, whether they form judgments and make choices based on thinking or on feeling, and whether their actions are more based on planning or taking things as they come. But understanding our natural tendencies is only the first step in exhibiting strong leadership that drives a culture of employee engagement and inspiration.
We’re in our comfort zone when we can think and act in a way consistent with our natural tendencies as revealed by the assessment. But, effective leadership requires us to step out of that comfort zone and think and act differently as situations require it. When I worked at Whirlpool, I reported to a VP of Marketing who was one of the most outgoing and social people I had ever met. When we met with distributors and dealers, he always had a commanding presence in the room. Imagine my surprise when I found out that he actually was an extreme introvert. He explained to me that he had to adjust his behavior to deal with different situations and it meant he had to step out of his personal comfort zone. Stepping out made him uncomfortable, but also a great leader. Leaders need to understand and inspire those they lead and that means adapting behavior to fit the situation. Now don’t misunderstand. I’m not suggesting compromising values or beliefs. I’m suggesting that effective leaders need to have the courage to be uncomfortable so they can make others comfortable. If you’re an extravert, think about how difficult it can be to carry on a conversation or attend an event with an extreme introvert who stays in that comfort zone.
Let’s try a simple demonstration to drive home the point. Wherever you are as you read this, cross your arms in front of you. Now, without thinking, cross them the other way. For most of us, it feels very awkward. We get used to a certain way of thinking and acting and it takes a conscious decision to do things differently. The same holds true for whether we write with our left or right hand. Again, most of us have a natural tendency to be either left- or right-handed and we’re comfortable writing that way. But there is nothing physical that prevents us from writing with the other hand or crossing our arms in the opposite direction from what feels comfortable.
So how do you consciously step out of your comfort zone to become a better leader?
- First of all, take the time to understand your natural tendencies so you have a base point. You’ll realize after taking an assessment like the Myers Briggs Personality test that there are ways that you think and act that just seem natural to you.
- Assess the situation and those with whom you are interacting to determine if you need to become uncomfortable and think and act apart from your natural tendencies to make others comfortable.
- Take the time to learn about situational leadership, developed and studied by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey. Situational leadership is when the leader or manager of an organization must adjust his style to fit the development level of the followers he is trying to influence. With situational leadership, it is up to the leader to change his style, not the follower to adapt to the leader’s style. In situational leadership, the style may change continually to meet the needs of others in the organization based on the situation.
When leaders step out of their comfort zones and behave in a manner that makes others comfortable, not only can they create a highly engaged and inspired culture, but they can come up with better solutions to challenges and issues by leveraging the diversity of others. It wouldn’t be called a “comfort zone” if it were not uncomfortable to step out of it. But having the courage to do so will make you the type of leader who others will support and follow.