In Learning & Development, we talk a lot about growth, but the heart of growth is something far more human and a value that really resonates with me, courage.
Real learning rarely happens when everything is familiar, predictable and easy. It happens when we choose (or circumstances require us) to stretch beyond what we know.
Courage doesn’t have to be rare or scary, it’s practical and accessible and should show up in small everyday moments that move us beyond what is familiar. For me, that’s looked like:
- Speaking up in a meeting even when I wasn’t sure my idea was fully formed.
- Trying something new at the gym, knowing I’d probably look awkward at first
- Asking for feedback after facilitating a training session, even though part of me wanted to avoid it.
- Changing direction in my work when something wasn’t landing, instead of forcing it.
None of these moments were huge, but each one stretched my comfort zone just enough to create momentum. And that’s the point, growth often comes from small acts of courage repeated over time.
Through this article I will explore how to build the courage to step outside your comfort zone, this is something I have recently experienced, personally and professionally, sometimes through choice but also unexpectedly too.
Hopefully the practical strategies I share will be one’s you can put into immediate effect and have similar positive benefits that I have experienced.
Start with a growth mindset.
Before leaning into challenge, it’s important we review our mindset, and adopt a growth one.
A growth mindset is the belief that your abilities aren’t predetermined, and that you can develop and improve through effort, learning, and practice. In this context, Growth refers to the development of our brains and how we can improve our intelligence, skills and abilities. Our Mindset is a way of thinking, a mental disposition, or a frame of mind that shapes our thought habits.
A growth mindset is the belief that skills can be developed, and our potential is not fixed. Any discomfort that comes our way isn’t a danger signal but a sign you’re expanding your capability. Sometimes you just need a little courage to help you take the first step towards it.
A few simple mindset shifts:
- The classic ‘yet’. Maybe we haven’t achieved what we wanted to, but the experiences are helping us to build momentum. This resonates with me when working towards challenges in the gym, celebrating the journey despite not having perfected a movement, knowing I am not there ‘yet’ but that I will get there with persistence.
- Reframe challenging situations as opportunities to learn. This has been an important reminder for me when I made a career change to a new industry, lots of things that I didn’t know, which can be difficult! Seeing every obstacle as a learning opportunity helped.
- When things go wrong (as they will) use the information to help make it better next time and view those mistakes as part of the journey.
- Remember, discomfort doesn’t mean incompetence. Try to look back at how far you’ve come rather than how far is left to go.
A growth mindset doesn’t remove fear, but it does help us to understand the purpose of sitting in that discomfort for the long-term benefits.
Strategies for taking your first steps outside your comfort zone.
Taking the first step is often the hardest. Here are some practical, manageable ways to start…
Start small, start specific.
Huge challenges can feel overwhelming so:
- Pick something with a clear, low-risk outcome e.g. speaking first in a meeting
- Make a “1% stretch” or small incremental change, over time this adds up as you can see from the graph below:
Set micro-goals.
Break the discomfort into tiny steps, take pitching an idea to your boss, and follow these steps:
- Share the idea with friend/trusted colleague for a piece of feedback
- Refine based on the feedback
- Mention the theme of the idea casually to gauge bosses’ reaction
- Request a conversation to share a thought
- Pitch idea
Once you have one of these small wins accomplished it aids the growth of confidence.
Use accountability wisely.
Tell someone your intention because courage grows when shared. This can be a partner, friend or colleague that will encourage you to follow through with your planned actions. When I was contemplating a career change, sharing my intentions helped hold me to account.
Visualise the after, not the during.
The “during” might feel uncomfortable. So instead visualise:
- the impact
- the feeling pride for giving it a go
- the learning you will gain
Reward the action, not the outcome.
Celebrate the courage it took rather than perfection. Try not to be entirely goal orientated as sometimes results, and factors that contribute to results, can be out of our control. Celebrate lessons learnt, effort and how you applied yourself.
For example, delivering a presentation can be daunting, reward the getting up and doing it rather than critiquing every imperfection.
When you’re pushed out of your comfort zone unexpectedly.
Sometimes courage isn’t chosen, it’s required. Here’s some tips for when that happens:
Pause before reacting.
It’s easy to have an emotive response when we are triggered by something unexpectedly. Our primal brain will respond to a perceived threat without rational thought, and this can be unhelpful. A few seconds of mindful breathing can regulate your nervous system and prevent panic.
Name what you’re feeling.
Naming an emotion is like turning a spotlight onto a shadow, it can be easier to overcome if you can see what you are dealing with. “I’m feeling worried due to uncertainty in this situation.” Knowing that this is quite a common and usual response and acknowledging it can help reduce its intensity. This acknowledgment can be simply to yourself or could be shared with someone you trust.
Ask clarifying questions.
Knowledge is power, so gaining a deeper understanding of a situation is so important. Our brains often fill in any blanks to makes things make sense and create a narrative, but this can often be untrue information.
For example, when a manager asks for a conversation post presentation our mind might jump to the assumption that something went wrong. Gaining clarity by asking if there was something, they wanted to focus on in the conversation could dissolve unnecessary worry. It may be that they were intending on sharing positive feedback or simply asking an unrelated question.
Break the moment into one simple next step.
Instead of thinking of the whole picture and everything you need to overcome, consider what is the next step and focus your mind on tackling that as a priority. This can reduce overwhelm and panic. For example, when looking to make a career change it felt like a huge challenge, so I focused on the first step of narrowing down the industry and role I would likely to be involved in, based on my skills and interests.
Draw on past evidence.
Use past evidence as reassurance that you are capable. I am sure you can think of past examples whereby you have overcome adversity or challenge. Use this to make you feel empowered. For example, when I am due to have a challenging conversation, I remind myself of how well I have handled previous conflicts, this aids confidence.
Focus what is within your locus of control.
When faced with an unexpected challenge, it’s easy for your mind to jump ahead to every possible outcome, many of which you have no influence over. Shifting your attention to what sits within your locus of control can help ground you.
For example, if a project deadline is suddenly brought forward, your instinct might be to panic about the time pressure or how others will perceive your work. Instead, focusing on what you can control e.g. communicating your capacity, prioritising key tasks and setting realistic expectations, can create a sense of stability. This mindset helps you respond with clarity rather than stress. Furthermore, using valuable energy stressing and worrying about what is beyond your control is energy wasted.
The benefits of stepping out of your comfort zone.
Courage is not only a personal value, it can also be professionally transformative.
You build confidence through action. Every stretch increases your belief in what you can handle and builds self-esteem.
You unbox new opportunities. Networks, roles, projects, relationships, newness rarely lives in comfort.
You increase adaptability. You become better at navigating the unknown and being agile, a superpower in any workplace or role.
You inspire others. Courage is contagious. By stretching yourself, you cast a shadow and permit others to try too.
You accelerate your growth. According to 70:20:10 model of learning, experience drives most development, not the formal learning. So, when things feel uncomfortable, that’s the 70% doing its job.
Courage doesn’t have to be loud.
Courage isn’t always about big, dramatic actions, it often comes from quiet consistency in how we choose to act and respond.
The more you practise these quiet acts of courage, the more naturally they come and the more your comfort zone expands. Find the strategy that works for you to make those first small steps out of your comfort zone. What is one step you could take this week to be a little braver?
If you’d like more information or to chat about how to implement growth mindset tactics, then drop me an email or message on LinkedIn.
