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January 10, 2011
Escape the Comfort Zone
 Getting offered a job you’re unfamiliar with, a position you may not be prepared for or a task you’re not sure you can complete can be scary. But while it’s natural to fear the unknown, pushing the envelope of comfort can take your career to a whole new level.
Pam Blalock learned this firsthand when she was asked by senior management to take a leadership position she was entirely unfamiliar with. “No team or staff, no budget, and a new boss I did not know,” Blalock, Distribution VP of Individual Business at MetLife, tells PINK. “I had to remove self-imposed limitations, rely on previous experiences and intuitive intelligence, build new relationships and recruit the right talent.” She adds that the result was a success for herself and her company.
According to MSN Careers, speaking out at work, especially if you usually keep to yourself, is key to making you stand out.
Experts say volunteering for a new project will remind the boss of your initiative and help you step out of your comfort zone. Plus, not challenging ourselves can lead to boredom and loss of motivation, says Life Hack.
Business Insider reports that venturing outside your comfort zone by setting high goals, taking risks and accepting new opportunities benefits not only you, but your company as well. Plus, great leaders are always searching for new opportunities, says Forbes.
Bonus PINK Link: Find out how getting out of your comfort zone can lead
to an "Ah-ha Moment."
By Caroline Cox
"Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right." Henry Ford
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Comments
Escape The Comfort Zone
I too just began a position that was higher up, in management, and I was (and still am) a little inundated by fear of failure--coming from a position that I had gained managerial control over office operations and received respect, monetarily and figuratively, from the owners of my former company. Stepping into this new position was breaking out of a comfort zone, and I know my fear of failure is a step in the right direction because at one point, it will become second nature.
Thanks for this article, Pink! Exactly what I needed to read. :)
Devika
Get out of the Comfort Zone
I can attest from my own personal experience that every time I've moved outside of my comfort zone, I've experienced salary growth. Let that be a motivator!