Belladonna Career Coaching

Is your Comfort-Zone Keeping You from the Career of Your Dreams?

It is a snowy winter day in New England. I am sitting by my warm fireplace with a glass of red wine in front of me.  I am anticipating a delicious dinner of slow-cooked ribs and mashed potatoes. A dinner that I consider comfort food. This inspires me to think about comfort in general.  The importance of it in our lives and how it impacts our career choices.  

Comfort is defined as “a pleasant feeling of being relaxed and free from pain”. 

Why is a state of comfort so important to us, especially in our career choices?  As humans, we are hard-wired to stay in our comfort zone as it reduces our level of anxiety and stress. I would like to explore some of the physical and psychological aspects that impact our comfort, especially at work. 

Environmental factors such as lighting, clothing, clutter, or temperature can be big distractors in our work environment.  For instance, when the office Air Conditioner is cranked to a temperature where your teeth are chattering, it is hard to focus and be productive.  These factors, however, are external and fairly easy to fix. You can throw on a sweater if it is too cold, or bring a small lamp to add more light to your work area. 

On the other hand, our emotional comfort zone is far more complex, especially in the work environment. The extent of people’s comfort zones varies greatly. Some simply embrace a routine and continue doing what they are good at. They meet the expectations of the work but rarely push the boundaries. They may socialize with colleagues they can relate to, and they stay within this small circle. Other’s comfort zone is more about the personal acceptance of who they are, and the opportunity to push the boundaries and be creative in their work. Some people find great comfort in larger crowds or talking to big groups of people outside of their work peer group. A person’s comfort zone is complex, and not always easy to define. 

What we do know is, that our level of comfort is related to the values we grew up with; experiences of success, failure, and maybe the biggest one; the fear of the unknown.  The challenge is knowing there is no growth taking place within one’s comfort zone.  Benjamin Franklin stated the consequences perfectly: “Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success, have no meaning.” You can imagine that employers and managers share this belief because they have a vested interest in seeing the organization thrive.  In response, they create initiatives involving goal setting and developmental programs to get the most out of an employee’s performance.

I want to go back to the question of how comfort impacts our career choices. Someone who is risk-averse may stay in a job or an organization for many years because they value predictability over getting out of their comfort zone and starting someplace from scratch; settling for “the devil they know”.  Other people thrive in constantly changing environments and embrace expanding their skills and growing their resilience while doing so.

I want to go back to the question of how comfort impacts our career choices. Someone who is risk-averse may stay in a job or an organization for many years because they value predictability over getting out of their comfort zone and starting someplace from scratch; settling for “the devil they know”.  Other people thrive in constantly changing environments and embrace expanding their skills and growing their resilience while doing so.

Where do I fall on the scale?  One of my favorite quotes by Neale Donald Walsh is, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone”.  I welcome challenging my status-quo and finding out what I am capable of.  I have taken many risks. I moved from my home country, Germany, to the United States to build a life here. I have invested time and resources into my personal and professional growth, most recently becoming a Certified Professional Coach.  This has been stressful and uncomfortable, but I am driven to find out where my highest human potential lies and serving as an example to others who might need a little nudge to get out of their comfort zone.  

I am curious, when was the last time you pushed yourself or were pushed out of your comfort zone?  What did you gain from that experience?

Do you need a nudge to grow professionally?  Coaching can help you overcome your fears and take the necessary steps towards reaching your full potential.  Contact me for more information. 

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