By | David Klaasen | Helping You Create Clarity, Inspire Your People & Drive Performance | Retain your best people | Changing Management Mindsets and Behaviour | Practical Behaviour Analytics
For most people the fear of the unknown and the fear of failure is greater than the discomfort of trying something new. It’s far easier to stay within our comfort zone even if it feels uncomfortable! And you will always find people to commiserate with you and confirm how difficult things are, because it gives them permission to stay in their own comfort zone. What will it take for you to step out?
Working life often feels so overwhelming because there is always so much to do. This means we have lots of convenient excuses to maintain the status quo. Most people want routine and security above all else. They prefer to complain about the situation they find themselves in and blame others rather than make the necessary changes. I often hear managers say “if only she / he would change . . . ” But the reality of life is that we cannot change others. We can only change the way we behave towards them. The same applies to the current economic climate; there is little point in wishing “If only the economy would stabalise” We need to adapt and be agile enough to meet the challenges it presents.
Excitement –vs- Anxiety
I’ve always been fascinated by the similarity between the feelings of excitement and anxiety. We will willingly go on a fairground ride full of excitement, but even mild anxiety will make us avoid confronting poor performance, making that sales call or admitting to a mistake. In each case the body is just pumping adrenalin into your system so you can operate at a heightened state of awareness, but the trouble is that it’s the mind that chooses what you are being aware of. Focusing on the discomfort of confrontation, rejection or the humility of being wrong holds most people back. In my experience this affects Directors and Business Owners just as much as Managers and Supervisors. In fact it is just a part of being human.
