We all have one—that place where everything is predictable and regular. Nothing to be threatened by or scared of. It’s your Comfort Zone. That place where you know the answer to every question that may arise, and you’ve spent time setting up boundaries so that you’ll never have to risk, test or experience discomfort. You know what to expect, and this gives you the feeling of safety and security.
According to a study by Harvard Business Review, about 70% of all leaders fail to reach their full potential. Many senior executives report their most significant regrets with respect to work come from staying too long in their Comfort Zone. They miss important opportunities for growth and advancement because they avoid risk and the potential for failure.[1] Andy Molinsky writes, “No one likes to move beyond his or her comfort zone, but that’s really where the magic happens. It’s where we can grow, learn, and develop in a way that expands our horizons beyond what we thought was possible.”
Very little of significance happens in the Comfort Zone. By definition, you can’t grow, expand, learn, envision, build—any of these would require you to change, and change is a big no-no in the Comfort Zone. Comfortable men like everything to be the same, day-in, day-out. The Comfort Zone is a trap for the leader—a prison, really, that keeps him from being his best. The Bible reflects this view for God’s people. Joshua 1:9 reminds leaders to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Why would God make this promise? It’s to be an encouragement to us. Because He knows what can be accomplished when we have the confidence to step outside the Comfort Zone. But that takes courage, and strength, and resolve.
The Apostle Paul writes significantly of bold leadership in his letters. He told his protégé, Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The spirit, the drive, of a Christ-following leader is to get outside the Comfort Zone to accomplish all that God has prepared for him to do. What are some practical steps we can take, today, to leave the Comfort Zone?
Try something new. The quickest way to test your limits is to do something new, or different. Go after a new skill or certification. Engage with someone outside your department or area of business expertise. Try a new hobby. Get some different advice on a decision or choice that’s ahead of you—not just the usual players like your reports or spouse, but someone outside of your immediate circle of input. Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs was an engineer at heart. So it seemed odd he would take a calligraphy class in college. But that eventually led to the variable styles and sizes of fonts on Apple computers, making them the go-to devices for graphic artists for decades.
Trying something is the lightbulb test of life. Thomas Edison famously tried between 3,000 and 6,000 materials before he found the right filament for the incandescent lightbulb. It’s the lesson of not giving up when something doesn’t work. Every trial was knowledge gained. So it is when we get out of our comfort zone by trying something new. Many of the things we try won’t pan out—but every trial brings us new knowledge and experience. And who knows, you might use that knowledge down the road in an unexpected way.
Test the relationship. Relationships don’t simply grow because of familiarity. They grow when we ask something new of one another. This forces the opportunity to go deeper. Without testing, a relationship will often stay polite, surface-level and limited in its impact. Instead consider asking a tough question, or challenging an assumption. Can the relationship handle the truth. Trust grows not just from encouragement, but from knowing the other person will tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.
Growth requires tension. When ideas, habits, or blind spots are tested, it forces the mentee to think, adjust, and mature. That challenge—handled well—becomes a catalyst for real development. Misunderstandings are inevitable. Testing moments (disagreements, missed expectations, tough conversations) force both people to practice clear, direct, and respectful communication. Over time, this builds a rhythm of honesty instead of avoidance. Relationship tests are filled with discomfort, but in pushing outside the comfort zone you will likely find great benefit.
Take significant risk. One of the key components of successful leaders in business is “risk management”. Notice, though, that this is not the same as “risk avoidance.” A good leader is going to take risk. In fact, a recent study of Asian executives found that a CEOs positive reputation is often tied to his ability to take risks. Sometimes risk is financial—mergers, acquisitions, expenditures, debt. Sometimes risk is personal—a crucial hire, reorganization, promotion, firing. Sometimes risk is directional—a new product, partnership, client, schedule, commitment. If you’re tendency is to wait until “everything is just right,” you’ll likely miss many opportunities in life and work that require a degree of risk-taking.
This is precisely where God wants His leaders. That is, in a position where they don’t have all the answers on their own, and must depend on Him to move forward. Throughout Scripture we never see God give His leaders all of the instructions ahead of time. Because risk with God is an opportunity to build trust in Him. Some of your risk-taking won’t be spiritual in nature, but you should approach it the same way. What is God calling you to do in areas of life and work? Where can you step out with more risk where the potential benefits are tremendous?
[1] https://hbr.org/2013/12/get-out-of-your-comfort-zone-a-guide-for-the-terrified
Cover Photo: Shutterstock.com
It’s your Comfort Zone. That place where you know the answer to every question that may arise, and you’ve spent time setting up boundaries so that you’ll never have to risk, test or experience discomfort.