The dangerous comfort illusion

At this time of year, we can all appreciate the reluctance to leave a warm bed on a chilly morning. Change represents a similar departure from our comfort zone. However, when it comes to change, a comfort zone is an illusion – and a dangerous one at that.

For CEOs and business leaders in particular, being too comfortable can be a significant barrier to change. It might feel like we’re ticking along nicely. Results are stable, they’re not stellar but they are steady. We’re not especially engaged or excited by our work anymore, but we don’t hate it either. This feeling of comfort and stasis can make us ‘blind’ to the need for change.

When we stay in our comfort zone, we are favouring survival over development. The experience of something new – moving out of our comfort zone – is what keeps us and our brains young, fresh and alive.  It’s also what keeps us performing at our best as leaders in business.

The comfort zone is the first of 12 steps in the Complete Step Change Wheel. Some people never leave it.

The Step Change Wheel

The Complete Step Change Wheel has four phases, which correspond to the process of human development – waking up, owning up, growing up and showing up. Each of the four phases has three steps – giving us 12 steps in the leaders’ journey.

This article is one of a series that we’ll be posting about each step of the Change Wheel. In this one, we start at the very beginning … a perfect place to start.

Knowing you are stuck in step one – the comfort zone

In the comfort zone, we generally feel alright. There is no drama and no chaos. However, we can still feel dull and, at times, boring.

The challenge is that business is all about change – markets evolve, customers demand something new, technology disrupts. In step one, we might dismiss those prompts to change. In our insularity, we lack sensitivity to market forces, and we reject the need for change.

Many CEOS may be stuck in step one on the wheel without realising it. You might feel like you’re stuck or treading water. You might sense that something is not quite right, or something is missing, but you might not be clear what the problem is.

If you answer no to these questions, you could be stuck in step one:

• Am I open to change?
• Am I open to ideas?
• Am I sure I’m right and others are wrong?

Transition out of your comfort zone

Simply recognising that the comfort zone is not actually that comfortable means we are receptive to moving to step two. We can move past complacency, wilful ignorance or narcissism and into step two – challenge.

One of the best ways to identify your route out of the comfort zone and into the challenge zone is to undertake a validated assessment. The Complete Values Profile is a self-assessment that can help identify whether you are stuck in the comfort zone and, even more importantly, what you can do to embrace the challenge of change.

You might also try getting feedback from trusted peers, coaches or advisors. Asking them about whether you might be ‘stuck’ in a comfort zone could help you unlock the energy to transition through the Change Wheel.

If you want to act right now, try setting yourself one ambitious goal that really stretches your current capabilities and deliberately moves you outside your comfort zone. Sometimes that first step is all it takes.

The benefits of change

Becoming a student of change enables us to become gifted and skilful at moving through the change process. Moving through those 12 steps can open new levels of happiness and performance. We have a more complete perspective on change and as leaders we become ‘more complete’. We are better able to meet those demands of fast-paced business environments.

The book, Step Change: The Leader’s Journey, is an incredibly useful study guide for the change curious. It not only explains why we might be reluctant to change, it also takes you through all 12 steps on the change journey. You can even ready it in the comfort of your warm bed … just don’t stay there too long. Change is good!