Get Comfortable Feeling Uncomfortable

I read a great piece by Laura Deck, a Program Manager for PBWC at Planning Dynamics who develops conference programs and other initiatives for women. She discussed how when women feel uncomfortable in a new position they are tempted to fall back on their previous jobs. While most people are fearful about a new job, men won’t confess their emotions and women will.

Nora Denzel, a former Senior VP at Hewlett Packard shared – “You can be outstanding or comfortable, but not both.” If a job is comfortable you are not learning so Nora urges you to get comfortable feeling uncomfortable because it is a sign that you are learning and growing.

A survey showed that men will take a new job if they have 10-20% of the qualifications while women won’t accept a new job unless they feel they have 70-80% of the capabilities. Men are more willing to take a risk and learn as they go while women feel the need to be fully prepared before they apply for, or take on a new position.

If you visualize yourself in a new position and surround yourself with a team of advisors and resources, you can learn things beyond your current skill set, education, and experience level. It’s all part of taking a risk on a new opportunity. If you welcome change and adapt quickly you can even learn to enjoy it.

After interviewing 250+ women for my book and blog, many confessed they felt like frauds at first in new positions that were a stretch from a previous role. But they also shared that the discomfort was challenging and stimulating and helped them grow professionally and personally.

If you stick with the status quo it’s easy to get into a professional rut. Pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone is a way to develop new opportunities to grow your career. Feeling uncomfortable means that you are doing something right!