Running a business today can be challenging. Companies are dealing with a difficult economy and an increasingly competitive market. The strategies that brought your business to where it is today may not sustain you tomorrow. Today’s environment requires new and innovative solutions and often means that you and your team will need to move beyond your existing comfort zone.
What is a comfort zone? It is a place where we feel secure, safe and stress-free. It is the place where we operate competently, often without having to put in a lot of effort. It is a place where we can be content, relaxed and happy. So why would we ever want to leave here?
The answer is simple. Without leaving the comfort zone, we never grow. We never learn new skills or competencies.
And, what happens to your business if you and your team never leave your comfort zones? Well, it probably won’t grow either. In fact, it is likely to lose market share as your clients move to organizations that are not afraid to look for new opportunities to shine.
Moving beyond your comfort zone may not be easy. It involves changing your behaviors and often changing the way you think. It may involve being creative and being willing to try something new. And it may mean being willing to face one or more of your fears.
Think about some of the milestones you have achieved: learning to ride a bike, drive a car or become proficient in a new sport; getting your first (or last) job, buying a home or investing in a business venture. Each of these achievements required you to stretch in a new way. Parts of the process may have been painful. Hopefully, the end results were worth the effort.
When last time you tried something new? Yesterday, last week, last month or last year? For some, it may have been many years. So why not begin today, by trying something new. Start small. Try a new food or eat at a different restaurant. Take a new route to work in the morning. If you are feeling brave, try a new sport or begin a new hobby.
Now, do the same with your business. Read a new business magazine. Try a new sales technique. Implement a suggestion box and see what your clients or employees have to offer. And then try something different.
About the Author
Fiona F. Middleton, MSM is a results-focused strategic learning and development executive with the ability to conceptualize, design and deliver targeted, sustainable and engaging enterprise training programs that positively impact the bottom line.
With more than 20 years’ experience working with business owners and senior management teams, Fiona is an expert in adult learning and an authority on delivering customized coaching and training programs that help organizations obtain results.
For more information: FionaMiddleton@comcast.net.
Fiona F. Middleton, MSM 