Whether it’s sitting on the sofa or staying in a hotel, who doesn’t want to be comfortable? It’s the same in most situations: Staying in your “comfort zone” is comfortable, with your job.
“Most people associate it with their own place – a kind of mental building, so to speak,” said Matthias Blattmann, a German entrepreneur and author of a book by the same title. You are leaving the comfort zone. Steps to success.
In their work, it is common to work and do well, says Florian Becker, business psychologist, author of a book on motivating employees. This may be important, especially in professions with high security risks and high work demands, such as medicine.
There is also an emotional level.
“Then the comfort zone is where you’re not worried and safe,” Becker said. The sound is good. So why do we keep hearing that we should leave our comfort zone?
“Because if we stay there too often, we are trading happiness in the future for the pleasure of the present,” he explained. “If you’re not in a position to leave your comfort zone, you’re not going to engage in what we call growth.”
There is only development — personal, professional and community as well, Becker said.
What’s more, by staying in your comfort zone, you miss out on comfort and important learning outcomes, according to Blattmann.
“You gain experiences that allow you to see situations that you may not have seen in your life,” he said.
Blattmann, who is 50, started his career as a dance teacher and now runs several companies in Germany. He said he is always happy to take on new challenges and learn new things.
Children are the best example of personal growth through adversity.
“They have something that many parents are missing,” Becker said.
That is, they are constantly striving to improve their performance, expose themselves to uncomfortable situations, fall down, get back up, and go to the limit. And by doing so, they gain daily skills, knowledge, self-confidence and opportunities – all the things needed in the workplace.
This childish spirit of adventure often diminishes with age. The problem is that by staying in your comfort zone, you’re not only ignoring your future and staying put, but you’re setting yourself back.
“The comfort zone of people who don’t push their boundaries is smaller than larger,” Becker said.
How do you overcome personal inertia?
“It’s important to face the music and think about where you’ll end up in five, 10 or 20 years if you carry on as usual,” he said. Visualization in your mind can be and become a catalyst for change.
“Those who don’t see the eye outside the other have a variety of situations that allow them to leave their comfort zone,” said Blattmann.
Becker agrees that fear and laziness aren’t the only things that keep people in their comfort zone. It is important to their character, he said.
“Some people are connected, and some don’t like change,” he said.
It is difficult for them to approach people for anything, ask for a raise or find difficult jobs. Those who are successful in engaging in growth often have the ability to “open to new things”.
“You have to push yourself, and for that you need energy,” says Blattmann, adding that by getting it you’ll know two things: what’s going to hold what drives you and what drives you forward.
“Then you need to tap your personal creative fuel” to encourage you. It may be the desire to regain the pride you felt after a famous achievement, curiosity, worthwhile goals or a strong desire to live your life with meaning.
It also helps, says Blattmann, to immerse yourself in inspirational books, meet new people and just try things you’ve never done before.
“The more we do, the harder it is for our brains to think.” Could it be dangerous to take a lot of time?
“It’s good to take some time, of course,” said Becker, “but if you go from growth to a panic zone, you hit an ice cube in the water and really hurt it. yourself.”
In contrast, you’re not doing yourself any favors by trying to cross the Alps by bike if you don’t ride one all year, Becker says, which makes it even better. of healthy growth.
“A lot of self-evaluation is necessary if you want to find something new,” says Blattmann. But, he adds, you have nothing to lose: “You always gain something, even if it’s just an experience.” – dpa